'Blonde Gene' Responsible for Flaxen Hair Color

Blondes may or may not have more fun, but they do have a special gene that's responsible for their golden locks. New research shows that a single genetic formation is to thank.

"This particular genetic variation in humans is associated with blond hair, but it isn't associated with eye color or other pigmentation traits," said study leader David Kingsley, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at Stanford University, via a press release.

It's known as the KITLG gene, and it's essential for many different type of cell types, including melanocytes involved in skin color. It's also known as what scientists refer to as the "junk" DNA, and is responsible for a specific gene "switch" that can result in specific hair colors.

"It shows blonde hair doesn't have anything to do with anything but blonde hair," Kingsley said, via Today Health.

For their study of the gene, researchers examined the three-spined stickleback in order to better understand the evolution of the fish. Researchers discovered that a single letter of genetic code from the fish affects pigmentation similarly in humans.

"The genetic mechanism that controls blond hair doesn't alter the biology of any other part of the body," Kingsley added, via Health Day. "It's a good example of a trait that's skin deep -- and only skin deep."

As researchers now carry the ability to link traits to specific DNA alterations, they hope that future studies will reveal a better understanding about resistance to certain diseases.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Nature Genetics.