--- In Nostratica@yahoogroups.com, "ehlsmith" <ehlsmith@...> wrote:

>
> One of the problems with using a trait like hair color to try to
> trace population movements is precisely that various types are each
> advantageous in some environments and detrimental in others, thus
> subject to natural selection. That can seriously skew the findings.
> Generally geneticists try to find a variation which is neutral in
> regard to natural selection.
>
> Regards,
> Ned Smith

But very specific mutations of particular alleles, as concern us
here, are unlikely to occur several times. We have already heard how
the natural selective pressures have resulted in quite different
genetic responses in Oz and NG. If hair colour is examined from the
genetic point of view I see little reason to discount its value in
our sphere of interest.

Cheers
Ben