• Question: how do we have different hair colour?

    Asked by jadoolan to Damien, Rachael, Simon, Suzi, Tim on 16 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by aimeellyn, ellen23saunders.
    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 16 Jun 2011:

      Hi @jadoolan
      Thanks for the question.

      What colour hair we have is determined by information stored in our DNA (called genes), in each cell in our body. You inherit these from your parents, but because hair colour is determined by more than one gene, you can’t fully predict by looking at the parents what colour hair the child will have.

      The actual differences in colour are caused by the amount of pigment in the hair itself.

      Hope this answers your question 🙂

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