As a geneticist with a focus on human genetics, I can tell you that the inheritance of hair texture is more complex than a simple recessive or dominant gene. Hair texture is a polygenic trait, which means it is influenced by multiple genes rather than just one. The specific genes involved are not fully understood, but it is known that certain genes can contribute to the formation of either straight or curly hair.

In general, hair texture can be thought of as a spectrum, with straight hair at one end and tightly curly hair at the other. The degree of curliness is influenced by the shape of the hair follicle and the distribution of proteins within the hair shaft. While some genetic studies have suggested that certain alleles (variants of a gene) may be associated with straight hair, it is not accurate to label curly hair as strictly recessive.

It is also important to note that environmental factors and other genetic traits can influence hair texture, making it a multifactorial trait. For example, hair can become curly due to the way the hair follicle is structured, and this structure can be influenced by more than one gene.

In conclusion, while there are genetic components to hair texture, it is not determined by a single recessive gene. The trait is polygenic, with multiple genes and possibly environmental factors contributing to the final hair texture.

read more >>

It has been long established that curly hair is a dominant trait in Caucasians and straight hair is recessive. ... However, a single gene has yet to be found to be solely responsible for the curly (or straight) hair trait in Caucasians.read more >>