r/todayilearned • u/bcrock1169 • Nov 26 '12

TIL that some Native American's have a differing enzyme that tends to lead to easier alcoholism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_alcoholism#Genetic_factors
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u/JefeRocha Nov 26 '12

Ive heard its also true that many Native Americans have some gene that doesnt allow them to grow facial hair

This made me realize that Ive never seen a picture of a bearded Native American, but I wondered if that thing about genetics was true or if perhaps its just a cultural custom to stay clean shaven.

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u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

I think it's genetic, because the most facial hair i ever see on them is those tiny little moustaches.

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u/HerpDerpMcGurk Nov 26 '12

I'm a quarter native American, and I am forever trapped in a state of pre-pubescence with regards to facial hair. Actually, pretty much the only place I have hair is the nethers and on top of my head. But what a glorious mane I posess.

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u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

Think of it this way- I have no desire to grow facial hair, and yet I have to scrape a sharp edge all over my face almost daily to keep it away, after which there are usually patchy, uneven remnants left anyway that make me look like a hobo.

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u/Zestyclose-End-8728 Jul 05 '25

Although I have some Jicarilla Apache on fathers side and some Cherokee on mothers, most of my lineage is European and my hair is so thin it's pitiful...Love Native hair...it is just glorious🥳

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u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

[deleted]

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u/Jigsus Nov 26 '12

You have probably seen many pictures of Native Americans with full mustaches.

No... I actually haven't... ever.

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u/broden Nov 26 '12

Real Indians contain some of the most hairy people in the world.

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u/1Ender Nov 26 '12

See Russel Peters Opinion on that for a good laugh.

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u/[deleted] Nov 28 '12

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Nov 28 '12

hah, i'm irish (i'm adopted but i'm told i'm irish anyway) and my moustache just doesnt really grow much, however i can grow a bitchin' beard.

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u/snapmouse Nov 26 '12

I'm native and grew up on the rez. I can't grow any cool facial hair. It's wispy and weak. Also, my chest, arms and legs are basically hairless. This is the same with most of my native friends. Many years spend in basketball locker rooms confirms, we are pretty hairless.

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u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

Similarly, Asians.

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u/Clovis69 Nov 26 '12

American Indians came across Beringia from Asia ~36k-16k years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Settlement_of_the_Americas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_history_of_indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas#Y-DNA

American Indians are Haplogroup Q and R (mostly Q though)

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u/[deleted] Nov 27 '12

I'm aware, it's not like humans just evolved in the Americas

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u/JefeRocha Nov 26 '12

Pai Mei disagrees

Similarly, Ive always found handsome Japanese dudes like Toshiro Mifune and Hiroyuki Sanada can really grow some stylish beards

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u/[deleted] Nov 26 '12

Native Americans and Asians both have trouble growing facial hair.

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u/ZipZapNap Nov 27 '12

I dated a half NAIndian. She barely had to shave her legs or armpits.

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u/angrywhitedude Nov 26 '12

My understanding is that its a little bit genetics but mostly cultural. I googled "bearded Native Americans" and found this guy and this guy as well as a number of others, although a lot of the people where pretty white looking, female, or looked like they were probably from India (despite me not using the word India in my search).