This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/5R.2ADI/1085.4 Message Board Post: Ron, When a recessive gene (like the orange hair color which likely came from Scots) is introduced into a relatively closed population, the incidence of expression of that gene increases, relative to how often it is seen in the larger population. This is due to there being a greater liklihood of two carrriers marrying, which is required for a recessive gene to be expressed (and even then, it may not be expressed). It is also possible for two different recessive genes (for two different unusual hair colors) to be introduced into a closed community. In such situations, one of those recessive genes will still be "stronger" than the other recesssive gene, and will likely be expressed more than the other. Many things can affect how often the "new" gene(s) are expressed---- such as how many offspring came from the first person with it, and how much intermarriage there was between close cousins in subsequent generations. It is certainly feasible that in small, closed populations, after many generations, a gene for recessive hair color can be expressed so frequently that it appears to be dominantly transmitted, even though it is not. In much larger populations the same genes may be carried, but rarely expressed, for many generations, or never expressed. You can read more about the basics of genetic transmission at any number of websites. You may even be able to read what chromosomes carrying the specific hair colors by going to sites about the Human Genome Project. I believe I saw something about redheds there.