Blue eyes are one of the least common human characteristics. In particular, only 8% to 10% of the world’s population has this intriguing eye color. What is more intriguing is that this large group of people could descend from a single person.
Jump to
- What did the doctor reveal about blue-eyed people?
- When did the blue eye mutation start?
- How did the study reveal interesting facts?
- How are blue eyes different from eyes of other colors?
What did the doctor reveal about blue-eyed people?
unpack
Dr. Neville Sanjana described the reasoning behind some of the concerns about human genetics and DNA on X (formerly Twitter) during an interview with Wired.
One perplexed user couldn’t understand the statement: “All humans who have blue eyes are descendants of a human who had a genetic mutation.” In response to the question, medical professionals discussed all the current evidence supporting the idea. Dr. Sanjana noted that the phenomenon began between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago, when an OCA2 mutation emerged in human DNA. He highlighted that “OCA2 is responsible for a protein called melanin in our eyes.”
When did the blue eye mutation start?
The origins of the blue eye mutation can be traced back to Europe, and all people with this unusual eye color are “distantly related to that founder from 10,000 years ago.” However, it is also hypothesized that OCA2 is not the only gene responsible for different eye colors.
According to the medical expert, about eight genes can be responsible for blue eyes in people. “Even if you have the brown-eyed version of OCA2, you can have blue eyes.” And it’s because of the contributions of those other seven genes,” he concluded.
How did the study reveal interesting facts?
In a 2008 study published in the Journal of Human Genetics, scientists investigated the origins of eye color by analyzing the DNA of a sample group of blue eyes.
The findings revealed that more than 99.5 percent of the study volunteers carried the same genetic mutation that determines iris color. This incidence of the same mutation in the study suggests that blue eyes originated in a single person, who is likely the progenitor of all subsequent blue-eyed humans on the planet.
Professor Hans Eiberg and colleagues from the University of Copenhagen carried out the research.
How are blue eyes different from eyes of other colors?
Some interesting facts about blue eyes include the fact that they are more sensitive to light and more likely to develop alcoholism. Blue eyes are relatively rare in the world’s population.
They are mainly found in people of European descent; Approximately 8% to 10% of the world’s population has blue eyes.
Some people with blue eyes experience a phenomenon called “Rayleigh scattering,” in which the color of their eyes may appear to change depending on lighting conditions.
They may appear bluer in sunlight and more gray or green in low light.
What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.
For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn