Blue eyed people, have you ever wondered why your eyes are the color they are? Well, wonder no more. Scientists have discovered that every blue eyed person is descended from a single European who lived around 6,000 to 10,000 years ago.
Originally, all humans had brown eyes in various shades until a specific mutation occurred. This mutation is linked to a gene called HERC2, which switches off OCA2, the gene responsible for determining the amount of brown pigment we produce. This genetic change is what causes eyes to appear blue.
The evidence supporting the theory that all blue eyed individuals share a common ancestor lies in the fact that every blue eyed person alive today carries this same genetic mutation. It is estimated that only 8 to 10 percent of the global population has blue eyes.
Interestingly, eye color is not fully developed in childhood, and the brown pigment can become more dominant later in life. This phenomenon explains why some blue eyed children may end up with brown eyes as adults.
So, if you have blue eyes, it turns out that your family tree is much larger and more interconnected than you might have previously thought. This genetic discovery sheds light on the fascinating history and evolution of eye color among humans.
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