In Melanesia, black people naturally have blond hair.

The Solomon Islands, a Melanesian archipelago northeast of Australia, is home to a unique phenomenon: a significant portion of its dark-skinned inhabitants sport naturally blond hair.

This has led to various hypotheses about the origin of this trait, ranging from environmental factors to genetic heritage from European explorers.

Recent research shows that the blond hair in Solomon Islanders is due to a recessive gene mutation distinct from the one found in European populations. The research identified a single genetic mutation in a protein called tyrosinase-related protein 1, which is crucial for pigmentation. This mutation is predicted to affect the protein's function and leads to blond hair when inherited from both parents. This discovery suggests that blond hair has evolved independently at least twice in human history, challenging the common assumption that it originated solely in Europe. The researchers analyzed DNA samples from over 1,200 Solomon Islanders and found that a single "letter" change in a gene responsible for pigmentation is responsible for the blond hair color. This mutation reduces melanin production, resulting in lighter hair. The researchers also found that this mutation is absent in other populations worldwide, confirming its uniqueness to the Solomon Islands. The prevalence of this blond hair gene in the Solomon Islands is likely due to the islands' small founding population and subsequent genetic drift. This phenomenon shows the importance of studying diverse populations to uncover unique genetic variations.