According to research from Professor Hans Eiberg, all blue-eyed people share the same DNA sequence. This mutation affects the OCA2 gene, which produces a pigment-protein known as melanin in the iris.
Brown eyes are dominant outside of Europe, and even within the brown eye color spectrum, there’s a wide range of variation. That’s why it’s so unusual to see a black person with blue eyes.
Misconceptions
There are people of African descent who have blue eyes. However, it is not a common trait among blacks. It is a result of a genetic mutation. It is also associated with a rare condition called Waardenburg syndrome, which causes deafness and pigmentation deficiencies. Some believe it is a result of ancient interbreeding with Neanderthals, which went extinct about 25,000 years ago.
It used to be thought that eye color was determined by a single gene and that there was a simple pattern of inheritance. It was believed that if both parents had blue eyes, they could not have children with brown eyes. The latest research has shown that eye color is influenced by as many as 16 genes. It is possible for two brown-eyed parents to have a child with blue eyes.
The genetic mutation that leads to blue eyes reduces melanin production in the first layer of the iris. This allows more blue light to pass through the iris, which gives it its distinctive color. The lack of melanin in the iris also makes it more sensitive to bright light. Blue-eyed people can burn easily when exposed to sunlight and may need more frequent use of sunglasses to protect their eyes from UV rays.
The earliest known person with blue eyes was a man who lived around 7,000 years ago in northern Europe. Researchers discovered his remains in a cave system in Leon, Spain. Genetic testing showed that he had the recessive blue version of the OCA2 gene and did not have the dominant brown version of the same gene, which makes eyes brown. This meant he had one common ancestor with blue eyes and also shared the same dark-skinned, curly hair and lactose intolerance genes.
Superstitions
Many cultures around the world have superstitions about eye color. Some of them are based on the idea that your eyes can reveal your health, and others are simply folklore that explains how you came to be the person you are.
In fact, your eye color is determined by up to 16 different genes. That means that even identical twins can have eyes of completely different colors, and one gene variation may be responsible for your child’s blue eyes while another might be responsible for their brown eyes. It is also possible for black people to have blue eyes. This is a result of a genetic mutation that happened in Europe 10,000 years ago and affected the OCA2 gene.
When it comes to black people with blue eyes, some of the most common beliefs focus on protecting them from the evil eye. The evil eye is a common superstition that involves a curse placed on someone by an angry or jealous person, and it is thought that those with blue eyes are particularly vulnerable to this. In some cultures, black people with blue eyes will be smacked on the forehead with a dash of soot or paste to create a blemish that will deflect the evil eye’s attention. Other people will wear a hamsa, which is an amulet shaped like a hand that is believed to protect against the evil eye.
Green eyes are another color that is considered especially mystical and otherworldly. This is likely due to the fact that green eyes are quite rare and are only found in 2% of the population globally. They are often associated with jealousy and envy, as well as good luck. In ancient Egyptian culture, green-eyed nymphs were thought to protect babies from danger in the water.
In Turkey, the nazar amulet is a popular way to ward off the evil eye. This is a simple, blue eye-shaped charm that is hung everywhere and can be seen in everything from window frames to designer shoes. Other cultures have similar protections, such as securing a hamsa or a tin foil bag on the back of a car to keep the evil eye away. Those with blue eyes are also believed to be able to love passionately, but their emotions are often very volatile. It is also thought that they are best matched with people who have brown or black eyes.
Genetics
As it turns out, people with blue eyes have less melanin pigment in their irises, and this causes light to reflect differently off their retinas. This explains why people with blue eyes look lighter than those who have brown or green eyes, although the color of a person’s eye can vary depending on how much melanin pigment is in their irises, as well as other environmental and genetic factors.
There are several genes that play a role in the development of eyes and skin color, but two of the most important ones are APBA2 and HERC2. Located on chromosome 15, these genes produce a protein called P that plays a crucial role in the maturation of melanosomes, which are cellular structures that produce and store melanin. A specific mutation in APBA2 reduces the amount of functional P protein, and this results in less melanin in the iris. HERC2 also affects the intensity of irises’ colors. Normally, it produces more eumelanin, which gives them their characteristic brown color. But HERC2 has a mutation that produces less of this pigment, and as a result, the irises of people with this gene have a more subtle color.
Several studies have shown that people who inherit the HERC2 mutation are more likely to have blue eyes than those with the normal allele, and a similar association has been seen for APBA2. Researchers believe that these two genes account for most of the Mendelian-like inheritance of eye color observed in populations of European descent.
Although it is rare, black people with blue eyes can be found. Some famous examples include actresses Aja Naomi King and Elizabeth Taylor, as well as musician Lionel Richie. Some scientists suggest that the presence of blue eyes in black people is due to historical intermarriage between Europeans and Africans.
Until recently, it was thought that the trait for blue eyes was determined by one dominant gene and followed an inverse dominance pattern, such that parents with blue eyes could not have children with brown eyes. However, it was later discovered that this model is too simplistic, and that multiple genes are involved in determining eye color. Furthermore, it was found that babies are not fully born with their final eye color and that it may change during their first six months of life as the melanin pigment in their irises increases.
Environmental Factors
Scientists believe that blue eyes are associated with the OCA2 gene mutation, which limits the amount of melanin produced in the iris. Melanin is a substance that gives skin, hair and eyes their color. People with OCA2 produce less eumelanin, and as a result their irises appear more transparent and the light that enters the eye appears to reflect off of the pupil more directly. This is why blue eyes are so distinctive.
While it is possible for black babies to be born with blue eyes, it is extremely rare compared to white babies with blue eyes. This is because both parents must carry a recessive allele for a baby to be born with blue eyes. In addition, the melanin that produces eye color is not fully established at birth; it may only reach its final color after six months.
The most common eye color for Caucasians is brown, followed by green and gray. Generally, it is believed that people who live in colder regions have developed lighter skin and eye colors to allow for better absorption of sunlight, which helps the body make vitamin D, necessary for healthy bones and immune systems. Similarly, it is believed that light-colored eyes help reflect light more effectively, which is why many people with blue eyes have fair complexions.
It is also possible for Asians to have blue eyes, as long as both of the parents carry a recessive allele. However, this is very rare, as most Asians have dark eyes.
In her story, Pecola is yearning for blue eyes to match the color of her skin and the color of her irises. She is seeking a way to escape her situation of structural violence and oppression through the transformation of herself. The different ways in which she seeks redress from her circumstances through her fetishizing for blue eyes – drinking milk, purchasing Shirley Temple mugs and wearing Mary Jane-style shoes – become a way to articulate her understanding of the nature of racism.
Pecola’s desire for blue eyes is not only a form of redress but also a way to assert her power and autonomy in a violent society. Her different modes of redress – seeking redress through her fetishization for blue eyes, racial pride and political activism – become ways to forge a new politics, and to create a world that is more just and equitable.