Page 448 - Melanesia
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ince most studies in human genet- possible explanations for its presence, nations in the world, with dozens of
S ics only include participants of said co-senior author Sean Myles, PhD, languages spoken.
European descent, we may be getting a former Stanford postdoctoral scholar I t was a return trip for Myles who
a very biased view of which genes and who is now an assistant professor at had been there in 2004 as a gradu-
mutations influence the traits we inves- the Nova Scotia Agricultural College.
tigate. Here, we sought to test whether
one of the most striking human traits, They generally chalked it up to sun ate student with Max Planck Institute
blond hair, had the same — or different
— genetic underpinning in different exposure, or a diet rich in fish, he said. molecular anthropologist Mark Stonek-
human populations,”Bustamante said.
Globally, blond hair is rare, occurring After researchers at UCSF generated ing, PhD, (also a co-author of the study)
with substantial frequency only in
northern Europe and in Oceania, which genetic data from the samples, Kenny, to investigate whether the language
includes the Solomon Islands and its
neighbors. “Its frequency is between a postdoctoral scholar in Bustamante’s variations correlated with genetic vari-
5 and 10 percent across the Solomon
Islands, which is about the same as lab, began the analysis in September ations. While there, Myles was fasci-
where I’m from,” said co-first author
Eimear Kenny, PhD, who was born in 2010, the week she started at Stan- nated by the ubiquity of blond hair,
Ireland.
ford. “Within a week we had our initial which was especially common among
M any assumed the blond hair of
Melanesia was the result of gene result. It was such a striking signal children. Stanford researchers say they
flow, a trait passed on by European
explorers, traders and others who pointing to a single gene — a result were surprised that the evidence point-
visited in the preceding centuries.
The islanders themselves give several you could hang your hat on. That ed so strongly to a single gene being
rarely happens in science,” she said. responsible for the blond hair among
“It was one of the best experiences of Solomon Islanders. “They have this very
my career.” In terms of genetic stud- dark skin and bright blond hair. It was
ies, the analysis was straightforward, mind-blowing,” said Myles. “As a ge-
said Kenny. But gathering the data, neticist on the beach watching the kids
accomplished in 2009 by Myles and playing, you count up the frequency of
co-first author Nicholas Timpson, PhD, kids with blond hair, and say, ‘Wow, it’s
was more difficult. Much of the Solo- 5 to 10 percent.’”
mon Islands is undeveloped, without
roads, electricity or telephones. It’s also
one of the most linguistically diverse
