The disappearing blonde gene refers to false reports that a scientific study had estimated that natural blonds would become extinct, which were reported as fact in reputable media such as the BBC and the Sunday Times between 2002 and 2006. Claims that blond hair would disappear have been made since 1865. According to the erroneous reports, the World Health Organization, or other experts, published a report claiming that people with blond hair "will become extinct by 2202".
The story about the report was a hoax—neither the WHO nor any reputable expert has issued such a report. Those who commented on this alleged report were asked by the WHO to retract.
The extinction claim is based on a misinterpretation of recessiveness in genetics. In reality, unless blond genes are positively selected against, blondeness will not disappear.
Read more about Disappearing Blonde Gene: In The Media
Famous quotes containing the words disappearing and/or blonde:
“Russian forests crash down under the axe, billions of trees are dying, the habitations of animals and birds are layed waste, rivers grow shallow and dry up, marvelous landscapes are disappearing forever.... Man is endowed with creativity in order to multiply that which has been given him; he has not created, but destroyed. There are fewer and fewer forests, rivers are drying up, wildlife has become extinct, the climate is ruined, and the earth is becoming ever poorer and uglier.”
—Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904)
“I was in love with a beautiful blonde once. She drove me to drink. That’s the one thing I’m indebted to her for.”
—Otis Criblecoblis, U.S. screenwriter. W.C. Fields (W.C. Fields)