The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is located on the surface of melanocytes (pigment cells) and is involved with switching melanin synthesis from the lighter red to yellow pheomelanin to the darker brown to black eumelanin. Most animals are capable of producing both pigments and have various shades of color distributed throughout their hair coats. Mutations in the MC1R can add interesting color patterns ranging from the all black phenotype of Chinese Meishan pigs to the all red color of the Irish Setter. Given the number of alleles within baramins (created kinds), much of the diversity at this locus must have developed since the genetic bottleneck at the Flood where only a single breeding pair was preserved for most baramins. Similarly, humans carry more alleles than can be accounted for by Noah and his family. Since mutations at this locus are not known to directly cause any disease and they add to the beauty and variety we see today, it appears that this locus was designed to vary. Furthermore, since there are non-random patterns that have been observed which cannot be explained by known selection factors, it appears plausible that many of these mutations may actually be directed.