Meet MC1R, The Ginger Gene

Natural red hair shows up in only about 1 to 2 percent of the world's population, making it one of the rarest hair colors on the planet.

Red hair happens when you inherit two copies of a variant MC1R gene, one from each parent. Aren't ye lucky.

Ireland and Scotland have the highest concentration of redheads on Earth, up to 10 to 13 percent of the population. Top o' the gene pool to us.

Research suggests the MC1R gene may make gingers more sensitive to cold and require more anesthesia, while boosting resistance to certain other kinds of pain.

Fair, freckled skin helps redheads soak up vitamin D faster in low sunlight, a handy trait for cloudy climates like Ireland.

Rumors of redheads dying out are pure blarney. Recessive genes don't just vanish, they hide in the DNA and reappear generation after generation.