Why do people of Chinese/Japanese/Korean origin have the same hair colour?

Question

I've never heard of an Asian person being born (of Asian only parentage) having any other hair colour than black while in the west hair colour seems vastly different on an individual basis. Is this something to do with the environment different humans evolved in and if so, what is the reason for different colour hair? Can any geneticists or anthropologists explain why this is?

Please note, I'm not making any kind of political or racist statement (or inviting any answers that do), I'm just fascinated to know. Its a shame I have to make a disclaimer like that but I know how people often mis-interpret such a question.

Answer 1

I am not sure but it may be the same reason most humans have 5 fingers instead of six even though the gene to have six is dominant over the gene for five. people mate with people they find attractive. 6 fingers is believed to be un-attractive so the gene is rarely found. possible in Asia black hair is considered attractive for many centuries and now the gene for other hair colors has gone the way of the 6 finger gene and rarely comes up

Answer 2

Don't underestimate the power of superstition.  Rarely a white-haired child would be born -- but would not be able to marry, because of superstition in China.

Answer 3

Black is the original hair colour of the Homo Sapiens. Based on recent genetic information carried out at three Japanese universities, the date of the genetic mutation that resulted in blond hair in Europe has been isolated to about 11,000 years ago during the last Ice Age. Before then, Europeans mostly had darker hair and eyes, which is predominant in the rest of the world. The spread of blonde hair/blue eyes features may be attributed to sexual selection, as females with these features were deemed more attractive and younger-looking.

Answer 4

It is all based on genetics. Darker hair color is actually considered dominant over lighter hair color (genetically speaking) Since most Asians in Asia create offspring with other Asians, There is absolutely no chance genetically for any other hair color other than black. Now if a person with black hair bred with someone with blond hair. Theoretically speaking there is a 25% chance that any progeny produced would have blond hair and 75% of having black hair (This is simplified I know)  Hope this helps

Answer 5

The Chinese, Japanese and Korean people are all descended from the same racial stock- Chinese. The genes responsible for dark hair and dark eyes is what is known as a dominant gene and by-and-large any offspring will take after the parent with the dominant genes.

For example: my girlfriend has black hair and brown eyes (dominant genes) whereas I have blonde hair and blue eyes (recessive or “weaker” genes). Any children we may have will have black hair and brown eyes. In order for us to have blue-eyed children, both of us would need to have the relevant gene. This is how farmers and scientists are able to breed animals which particular traits and is a simple example of genetic engineering. The reason that Europeans as a group have different coloured hair and eyes is because of countless generations of interbreeding, thus the genes are diluted.