In an unusual twist for redheads around the globe, women are now specifically seeking redheaded sperm donors as demand for little gingers rises. According to Co-ParentMatch, an international sperm donors network, a mere 2 percent of current sperm donors are blessed with natural red locks. Recently the sperm donors network announced on Twitter that there had been a significant rise in demand for redheaded donors, as women would like to have a redhead child with the rare redhead gene. The announcement on Twitter was followed by a hashtag "SaveGingers" and readers were asked to "tag a ginger mate who would make a great donor."
The elusive redhead gene
Reports suggest that less than 2 percent of the world's population has Red Hair, while a higher percentage might carry the gene for red hair.
For a couple to bear a redheaded baby, both of them must be carriers of the redhead gene, MC1R, which is not only a mutated gene but also recessive. This means that even if the couple both have red hair, it doesn't necessarily mean that their children will. What's more, couples only have a 25 percent chance of having a red-haired brood if they carry the gene but don't have red hair themselves. Studies have also suggested that 25 percent of Caucasian Americans carry the elusive redhead gene, so even if you both don't have red hair, you could still end up with a nice little fiery surprise.
The tables have turned
Six years ago in 2011, the world's largest sperm donor bank, Cryos International, caused upset when they said they would not be taking any more donations from redheads as they had an overly-abundant supply of red-haired donors and it was simply not what people were looking for.
The director of the bank, Ole Schou, was quoted by a Danish newspaper at the time as saying, "I do not think you choose a redhead, unless the partner, for example, the sterile male — has red hair, or because the lone woman has a preference for redheads. And that’s perhaps not so many, especially in the latter case.” Naturally, this stirred up a bit of controversy.
To add to the upset, Schou stated that in countries outside of Ireland people did not particularly want to have redheaded offspring. Well, how the tables have turned!
So what else is there to love about redheads? Redheads are known to be able to produce their vitamin D, their bodies have the ability to change temperature quickly due to increased sensitivity and if you ever meet a blue-eyed redhead, know you have just witnessed one of nature's rarest color combinations.
