Dominant Genes???

I have very dark brown hair naturally...and my DH has red(well, light red hair). Is there a way to figure out if our baby will possibly have red hair?? I know it isn't exact, but since I am due tomorrow, I am trying to keep myself occupied.

Re: Dominant Genes???

Hi!.... Red hair is recessive... I believe it also goes back to your parents and his parents too.... so if there are no redheads in either of those departments.. your chances are low... Hope this is helpful!.....

Re: Dominant Genes???

someone posted this about eye color and hair should work the same way... maybe you can figure it out somehow from this link (see below)
I know brown is def. dominant over red or blonde. If you have the recessive gene (blonde or red) from either of your parents it is possible the baby will have red hair, if not, its likely the baby will have brown.

eye quiz

Re: Dominant Genes???

Maybe this will help you or keep you occupied
My SIL is fair skin with dark black Italian hair and has dark eyes. Her DH is fair skin with Irish red hair, blue eyes and lots of freckles. Their three kids all have medium to dark brown hair, and are very very fair skin. 2 kids have light brown eyes, 1 has blue-ish grey eyes.
Sometime to ponder.

Your almost there!

Re: Dominant Genes???

in general, "dark" genes are dominant over "light" genes because dark genes code for pigment whereas light genes actually code for lack of pigment.

so... theoretically, if you have two dark genes (from each of your parents) and your DH has two light genes (from his parents), then your baby will get one of each, and his/her hair will be lighter than yours but darker than his.

in reality, though, things are much more complicated than this, and there is likely a group of genes involved rather than just one. but it's still fun to think about

Re: Dominant Genes???

My Dh is Italian-dark hair and dark eyes and nice olive skin. I am light skinned, green eyes and blonde hair. DS#1 has all the features that DH has as they are the most dominant.
Then DS#2 came....light skin, platinum blonde hair and sky-blue eyes-You never know what you're going to get.
Good luck!

Re: Dominant Genes???

Posted by apb17

My Dh is Italian-dark hair and dark eyes and nice olive skin. I am light skinned, green eyes and blonde hair. DS#1 has all the features that DH has as they are the most dominant.
Then DS#2 came....light skin, platinum blonde hair and sky-blue eyes-You never know what you're going to get.
Good luck!

Re: Dominant Genes???

Thanks girls! My Mom is 100% italian--so I have dark dark hair and olive skin. My Dad has dark hair also.

My DH's mom has naturally light brown hair and his dad has medium brown hair, but according to his dad, someone on his side had the red hair and that is where my DH got it.

Something to think about over the next few days! Thanks for all of your thoughts girls!

Re: Dominant Genes???

eeek! i just did mine, and hoping i would get BLUE to be the dominant.. and what did i get.. bark brown! like me. My DH has these beautiful blue eyes and I now can only wish my baby does also.

I hate brown!!! hahahahahaha oh well, if it is cant do anything about it now.

Re: Dominant Genes???

Neither my DH nor I have blue eyes, but DD ended up with a pair. Ya' just never know!

Re: Dominant Genes???

Re: Dominant Genes???

DH and I both have dark eyes and dark hair -- my mom has dark eyes and hair, my father has auburn hair and hazel eyes. DH's mom has dark hair and blue eyes, DH's dad has dark hair and dark eyes.

I thought it was pretty certain our baby would have dark hair and dark eyes, so you can imagine how suprised we are with our blue eyed, reddish-brown (will probably end up auburn, like my father) haired little boy.

According to that link we only had a 5% chance at a blue eyed child. It's amazing how genetics work, but it seems like all the recessives (blue eyes, reddish hair) came out in DS.

Re: Dominant Genes???

I was a biology major..but its been awhile...

Eye color follows dominant and recessive patterns...brown eyes are dominant and blue/green eyes are recessive. It is impossible for 2 blue eyed parents to have a brown eyed child B/C they do not carry the Gene for brown eyes if they carried the gene then one of them would of had brown eyes..but two brown eyed parents can have a blue eyed child. If you carry the brown eyed gene you will have brown eyes..but since you receive 1 gene from each parent you still may carry the recessive gene for blue eyes..which may be passed on to your children.

Hair color doesnt really work this way. Except in the case of Red hair. Red hair itself is a separate Recessive Gene and both parents need to carry the gene in order for the child to have that true red hair..

P.S. Look at my girls..these both came from dark haired parents..one with green eyes (me) one with dark..ALTHOUGH..I had redish blond hair up until I was about 6 or so...the twins are 8 and I dont see it darkening AT ALL!!!!

Message edited 8/8/2007 11:13:05 AM.

Re: Dominant Genes???

I have pale skin and very dark hair, my husband is a mousy brunette...my son is a yellow blondie. I love it!

Re: Dominant Genes???

Message edited 8/8/2007 11:33:22 AM.

Re: Dominant Genes???

Re: Dominant Genes???

quiz is fun but theres no opton for hazel eyes

Re: Dominant Genes???

Re: Dominant Genes???

Re: Dominant Genes???

Red hair is recessive, but dominant... does that make sense?

Basically, if it's present... your kid should have red hair.

Both me and my brother have red hair... BRIGHT red hair as kids.. now more muted. But neither of my parents have red hair.

My niece has red hair... my SIL is prego again and we'll see what color hair #2 has... She is not red headed, but obviously my brother is.

I hope my kids (when I have them) get my red hair as well!

Re: Dominant Genes???

You could do a Punnet Square.