Another internet hoax became “common knowledge”
Redheads are not becoming extinct, but that doesn’t stop people from thinking it.

By Aleisha Husolo

T: some people, it is considered
common knowledge that
redheads will one day become
extinct. Ask a redhead; it wouldn’t be
uncommon for a complete stranger
to have mentioned that they are
considered an “endangered species”.
The problem is that should that
redhead do an internet search, they
would in fact find a bunch of links
with information supporting that
notion.

The first six articles that show
up make reference to the one
National Geographic article about the
extinction of red heads. They claim

that National Geographic has said that
red hair will soon become extinct.
The truth is that National Geographic
was really trying to say that red heads
are becoming less popular; with only
two percent of the world’s population
being red heads, the gene will never
truly be extinct. The myth was based
on the idea that a recessive gene can
fade out, but that is simply not the
case.

Red heads started out as a
genetic mutation thousands of years
ago, which is relatively recent. It
is thought that adaptation came
about to help people cope with
sunlight, although now those with
red hair are more prone to skin

cancer and sensitive to hot and cold
temperatures. Other similarities
among red heads are usually pale
skinned with light coloured eyes and
freckles.

Since the red head gene is
recessive it can be easily dominated
by others during the gene selections
process. Therefore, it is less likely
that a child will have red hair, even
though a red haired child is possible

if only one or neither parents have red

hair. The red haired gene can never
truly become extinct, unless all red
heads or people with the recessive
gene die or fail to reproduce. The
gene may rest dormant in the
reproductive system for generations

   

 

 

but will eventually return. So

although we may see less of the fiery
red hair, they will one day make their
comeback.

 

Makers of alcoholic energy drinks are warned

By Maria Asselin-Roy,
Staff Reporter

ealth Canada has its eyes locked

on pre-mixed alcoholic energy

drinks. After much speculation,
Health Canada’s food directorate is still
under serious consideration of the future
directions for the products. With the
majority of the consumers being teenagers,
the idea of caffeine and alcohol together in
cans that is so easily obtainable is alarming.

While alcoholic beverages containing
the food additive caffeine are a violation
to Canada’s food and drug regulations,
products like Rockstar + vodka are
permittéd. This is confusing to people
because on the cans of the original
Rockstar, there is a warning on the small
print directing consumers not to mix with
the beverage with alcohol. The beverage
should not be mixed with alcohol because
caffeine can alter sensory cues that people
may rely on to determine how intoxicated
they are. Rockstar + vodka contains extra
caffeine although it has ingredients that
already naturally contain it, such as guarana
and yerbe mate. Studies have also shown
that with mixing alcohol with energy drinks
will increase the risk of injury.

A 473-millilitre can of Rockstar énergy
drink, regulated as a natural-health product,
contains 160 milligrams of caffeine, 50
milligrams of guarana, 50 milligrams
of ginseng and B vitamins among other
ingredients. Ginseng, also considered
a stimulant, may enhance the effects of
caffeine, while guarana is a herbal source of

caffeine. Rockstar + Vodka contains 6.9%
of alcohol in addition to the caffeine.
Health Canada has received about
79 adverse reaction reports related to the
consumption of regular energy drinks, let
alone energy drinks mixed with alcohol.
Half of these reports were considered
serious including two deaths, four life
threatening situations and over sixteen
hospitalizations. In response to these
incidents, four of the United States have
banned the alcoholic beverages, and other
states are considering to follow this action.
Because the U.S Food and Drug
Administration only issued warning letters
to Health Canada, there are different
approaches coming into consideration on
exactly what to do about these drinks. The
first approach is to reformulate those energy
drinks combined with alcohol and remove
excessive caffeine content. The second
approach concerns the energy drinks only
associated with caffeine content alone.
The U.S Food and Drug Administration
is sending out waivers to manufacturers
asking to make clear warning signs of
high caffeine content on their beverages,
in hopes.that some people will make the
healthier choice and understand the effects.
The alcoholic drinks could be seized off
of the shelves if the companies continue
to make them and market them. So, the
companies have about fifteen days to
respond to the administration letters and
explain how they will take their product
off the shelves or defend their particular
beverage as safe.