There are a few things to consider when discussing the question of whether black people with blue eyes are born with them or if they are just inherited. Genetics is one, but there is also the OCA2 mutation which is something to take into account.
Genetics
Blue eyes are not common among black people. Although some are born with blue eyes, this is not always the case. The majority of blue-eyed individuals are descendants of a single genetic mutation that occurred some 10,000 years ago.
In order to determine which genetic variant causes blue eye color, scientists at the University of Copenhagen studied the DNA of 800 individuals from all over the world. They found that almost everyone with blue eyes had one gene, the OCA2, that produces the blue colour.
However, it is not a simple matter to predict which individual will have the correct color of eyes. A lot depends on the genetic variants passed down to the parents. Moreover, a recessive gene can remain dormant for many generations. If a child inherits two copies of the same gene, the odds of having blue eyes increase.
Another interesting discovery was that there are two different genetic regions responsible for skin and eye color. One region is located on chromosome 15 and the other on 5p13.3.
Despite their varying locations, both regions have significant contributions to eye and skin color. For example, the HERC2 (OCA2) gene has a profound effect on eye color.
The OCA2 gene is also responsible for producing P protein, which plays a critical role in the development of melanosomes. It is important for the amount of melanin produced in the iris. Interestingly, the OCA2 gene has a funky mutation, which changes its function and produces brown eyes instead of blue.
These findings are the latest in a decade of research. The findings suggest that blue eye color may be a function of a founder mutation, rather than simply an inherited trait.
OCA2 mutation
The OCA2 gene is involved in a genetic switch that reduces the amount of melanin that is produced in the body. This decrease in melanin causes the eyes to lighten. There are several other genes that also play a small role in eye color.
The OCA2 gene is located on chromosome 15. This gene is involved in producing P protein, a protein that helps process melanin. Melanin is the substance that gives our hair and skin color. Normally, people of African descent have brown eyes.
However, some individuals in the European and Asian populations have blue eyes. Researchers have been trying to find the genetic mutation that causes these colors.
It has been suggested that the mutation in the OCA2 gene may have originated in the Black Sea region. People from this area migrated north to Europe 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. When they arrived in northern Europe, they likely ate a diet rich in vitamin D. They were exposed to more sunlight than their predecessors.
However, they still didn’t have enough melanin to produce brown eyes. Researchers believe that the mutation in the OCA2 gene alters the amount of melanin that is being produced in the iris of the eyes.
Currently, there are six candidate pathogenic variants in this region. These include the OCA2 gene, the HPS1 gene, and two variants in the TYR gene. Each of these has an unknown allele frequency. But the most likely pathogenic variant is the OCA2 gene.
While the OCA2 gene has been associated with the albinism syndrome, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a person with the mutation will have the disease. Other genes can override the instructions in the OCA2 gene. Nonetheless, people with this mutation will have a form of albinism.
0% chance of getting a blue-eyed baby
A study from the University of Copenhagen found that almost all blue-eyed individuals share a single genetic mutation. The study also found that the blue-eyed gene has been around for more than 10,000 years. This means that it’s unlikely that a baby’s eye color will change after its birth.
However, there are some things to consider before you go out and try to trick your unborn baby into having blue eyes. Firstly, you will have to have brown eyes or have a partner with brown eyes. If you do have brown eyes, you will be in good company.
For example, there are two families in the world with more than one green eye. And there are two families in the world with more brown eyes than green ones. You will most likely have either brown or blue eyes.
In fact, according to a University of Pittsburgh study, lighter-colored eyes are more durable. That is, they are better at coping with stress. So, if you have darker-colored eyes, it’s probably a good idea to try and have a lighter-colored baby.
Of course, if you’re hoping to have a baby with both brown and blue eyes, you will need to have a partner with brown eyes. Otherwise, your chances are slim.
On the other hand, you may have a 50-fifty chance of having a blue-eyed child if you have a pair of brown-eyed parents. Nevertheless, you will have a far greater chance of having a baby with hazel or green eyes than a baby with black or reddish-brown eyes.
It’s not impossible to have a blue-eyed baby, though it’s more difficult than it looks. However, you can give yourself a better chance of having a baby with blue eyes by putting yourself on a diet.
Gray eyes scatter light differently than blue eyes
Approximately 3% of the world’s population has gray eyes. Although many believe that this eye color is a result of genetics, scientists still don’t know how this pigment forms. It is possible that the size of the collagen in the stroma may determine the appearance of gray eyes.
The iris is composed of two layers, the front, or sclera, and the back, or epithelium. The sclera is a thin layer of white tissue, and the epithelium is two cells thick. Both the sclera and epithelium are surrounded by an outer layer, the stroma, made up of colourless collagen fibres.
Light passes through the sclera and reaches the iris, where it is reflected off the collagen in the stroma. This causes the iris to appear light or gray, depending on the amount of melanin in the stroma.
Eyes are colored by the presence of melanin, a dark brown pigment. Some people have both light and brown eyes. People with brown eyes have more melanin than people with light eyes, but they don’t have as much melanin as people with blue eyes.
Most people have melanin in the iris, but people with blue eyes have less melanin than those with green or gray eyes. This is why people with gray eyes are less likely to develop autoimmune disorders like vitiligo.
People with dark gray eyes have a larger amount of melanin in the front layer of the iris than people with light gray eyes. They also have more collagen in the stroma. Because of this, they may appear to have blue eyes, even though their irises are actually grey.
People with blue eyes often live in the southern cone, northern Europe, and the Iberian Peninsula. People with gray eyes can be found in the Middle East and West Asia.
Michael Brown’s definition of colorism
Colorism is a type of prejudice. It occurs when people believe that one type of skin tone is superior to another. While colorism is most common among White Americans, it can also occur with people of color.
The origins of colorism date back to a time when enslaved Blacks were treated differently from free Whites. This intergroup division was part of an overall social stratification mechanism. As a result, the color of skin played a significant role in life chances.
Some studies have suggested that varying levels of skin tone have important implications for income, occupational status, and education. However, few studies have explored the association between skin tone and other aspects of race.
For example, some studies have suggested that a darker skinned person faces a higher probability of being subjected to racism. Other studies have delved into the relationship between wealth inequality and skin tone.
While no research has been able to pinpoint the exact association between skin tone and bail hearings, there is evidence that a dark-skinned defendant may be subjected to a less-than-efficient justice system. Therefore, the link between skin tone and the judicial process may have a disproportionate impact on those of a darker complexion.
As you can see, the impact of skin tone on life chances and other factors is far-reaching. To achieve a full understanding of the complexities of colorism, researchers must examine it in context.
The best way to accomplish this is to use a short scale that is easily quantifiable and which can be applied to a wide variety of settings. An ICS, for example, was designed to be a comprehensive measure of all of the major colorism dimensions.