Red hair gene may be the main culprit behind skin cancer. Dr. Jiali Han of Harvard Medical School in Boston and colleagues has given vent to this idea. However, they are not very sure about it.
Genes that play an important role in skin pigmentation also play a decisive role in saving skin from the harsh ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Researchers found that the women with variants of 151Cys had 65 percent more chances of having skin caner. At the same time their risk of having BCC and SCC were 56 and 67 percent more, respectively.
This study has also dragged out the idea that person’s MC1R variant may play an important role in determining his chances of having skin cancer.
Scientists still need to dive deep into this study to reach the kernel of the conclusion.
Image credit: wikimedia
Via: msnbc