Red hair wasn’t always the most popular physical attribute to have growing up and many redheads faced some rather nasty taunts about their locks in the playground.
Being called “ginger” or similar names and hearing comments about temperament are par for the course for most redheads, particularly when they are children.
However, the next generation may be more fortunate because nowadays there’s a demand for those gorgeous ginger genes.
Yep, Co-ParentMatch.com, a global sperm donor network has specifically put out an appeal for more red-haired men to become sperm donors.
Using the hashtag #SaveGingers, the network shared a poster to their Facebook wall, asking friends to “tag a ginger mate” who would be interested.
Underneath, they explained that only two percent of their donors had red hair and their female members had been requesting sperm from ginger donors.
Needless to say, many redhead guys found themselves being tagged by their friends in the amusing post.
So why the sudden demand for redheads? We think it has something to do with the rise of the world’s most loveable redhead Ed Sheeran… or maybe handsome Prince Harry?
Red hair hasn’t always been so in demand, in 2011, one of the largest sperm banks Cryos International declined donations from redheads because there wasn’t enough demand, according to News.com.au.
Red hair is the least common hair colour and it’s feared that it could even become extinct. So, those wishing to donate could be doing their fellow redheads a big favour by perpetuating the redhead gene.
Sperm banks are pleading for more donations from redheads as they work to meet growing demand #SaveGingers #KIISnews pic.twitter.com/4FeFuR0bJ8
— KIIS 101.1 Melbourne (@kiis1011) July 18, 2017
However, doctors have warned that having one red-haired parent will not automatically guarantee a red-haired child, it is all down to the genetic lottery.
Red hair comes from a recessive genetic trait which means a person may carry the gene but not have red hair themselves.
However, they may have a red-haired child with a partner who also carries the trait.
What do you think is behind the demand mums? If you were looking for a sperm donor, would you go for a redhead? Let us know your thoughts.
