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Baby Blues Come From Single Ancestor

A long-ago genetic mutation diluted brown eyes, scientists say

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 31, 2008 7:21 PM CST
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(Newser) – All blue-eyed people have a single, shared ancestor, scientists say. And all those baby blues are the result of a genetic mutation that occurred between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago, LiveScience reports. Before that, everyone had brown eyes. The mutation limits the effects of the gene that produces melanin, which colors our eyes and hair, thus diluting browns to blues.

"A genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a 'switch,' which literally 'turned off' the ability to produce brown eyes," said one researcher at the University of Copenhagen. Today, up to 40% percent of Europeans have blue eyes. "This gene does something good for people," said another researcher. "It makes them have more kids."

Blue eyed-people share a single ancester from between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago, scientists have found.
Blue eyed-people share a single ancester from between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago, scientists have found.   (Shutterstock.com)
Blue eyed-people share a single ancester from between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago, scientists have found.
Blue eyed-people share a single ancester from between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago, scientists have found.   (Shutterstock.com)
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More details and speculation on blue eyes
Daily Mail (UK)

Path to the original article
National Center For Biotechnology Information Subscription

Find out more about eye color
Wikipedia

 
genetics • science • genetic mutation • Denmark • human evolution • eyes

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