# Hey freckles, we now know why you're a mutant

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-freckles-we-now-know-why-youre-a-mutant/674462>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [November 21, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-freckles-we-now-know-why-youre-a-mutant/674462 "2013-11-21T19:08:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-freckles-we-now-know-why-youre-a-mutant/674462/1 "2013-11-21T19:08:12Z")

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Or to be more scientific about it - Researchers identify genomic variant associated with sun sensitivity, freckles. Article [here](http://www.nih.gov/news/health/nov2013/nhgri-21.htm)from the NIH.

> [@](#):
>
> The newly discovered variant acts like a dimmer switch. When the switch in the IRF4 enhancer is in the on position, ample pigment is made. Melanin pigment gets transferred from melanocytes to keratinocytes, a type of skin cell near the surface of the skin, and protects the skin from UV radiation in sunlight. If the switch is turned down, as is the case when it contains the discovered variant, the pathway is less effective, resulting in reduced expression of tyrosinase and melanin production. The exact mechanism that generates freckling is not yet known, but Dr. Pavan suggests that epigenetic variation—a layer of instructions in addition to sequence variation—may play a role in the freckling trait.

edit: I should mention I also have freckles and think they’re cute, but mine aren’t all that noticeable.

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**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-freckles-we-now-know-why-youre-a-mutant/674462/2 "2013-11-21T20:59:53Z")

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I look like a freaking turkey egg … neat, I’m a mutant!

😛

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**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-freckles-we-now-know-why-youre-a-mutant/674462/3 "2013-11-21T21:14:50Z")

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Thanks for sharing!

Freckles are definitely cute.

I don’t have them, unless you count my forearms, but I think we’d have to call those age spots, now. I used to get a few on my cheeks, after sunburns, as a kid. Now I just get carcinomas. Wear sunscreen!

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**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-freckles-we-now-know-why-youre-a-mutant/674462/4 "2013-11-21T21:24:50Z")

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Mom was a mutant with freckles and auburn hair so I get mine from her. But since they tended to keep me out of the sun as a kid I guess that’s probably why they never ‘flowered.’ Unfortunately that’s also probably why I was vitamin D deficient, but . . . oh well.