Posted on 02/02/2008 1:02:18 PM PST by G8 Diplomat
People with blue eyes have a single, common ancestor, according to new research.
A team of scientists has tracked down a genetic mutation that leads to blue eyes. The mutation occurred between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago, so before then, there were no blue eyes.
"Originally, we all had brown eyes," said Hans Eiberg from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Copenhagen.
The mutation affected the so-called OCA2 gene, which is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that gives color to our hair, eyes and skin.
"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," Eiberg said.
The genetic switch is located in the gene adjacent to OCA2 and rather than completely turning off the gene, the switch limits its action, which reduces the production of melanin in the iris. In effect, the turned-down switch diluted brown eyes to blue.
If the OCA2 gene had been completely shut down, our hair, eyes and skin would be melanin-less, a condition known as albinism.
"It's exactly what I sort of expected to see from what we know about selection around this area," said John Hawks of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, referring to the study results regarding the OCA2 gene. Hawks was not involved in the current study.
Baby blues Eiberg and his team examined DNA from mitochondria, the cells' energy-making structures, of blue-eyed individuals in countries including Jordan, Denmark and Turkey. This genetic material comes from females, so it can trace maternal lineages.
They specifically looked at sequences of DNA on the OCA2 gene and the genetic mutation associated with turning down melanin production.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
I'm a mutant! LOL
Some people with blue eyes get headaches if they’re out in the sun too long; the lighter the blue the worse the headaches. Ligher eyes let in more light, and are more sensitive to sunlight. People in the northern countries like Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, etc often have blue eyes (along with blond hair, which often, but not always, goes with that trait) because the sun is less intense up there so they don’t need dark eyes to block out more light, like they do in Africa and the Middle East, where most people have dark eyes.
As for the Middle East, the blue eyes usually appear occasionally in non-Arabs, i.e. Turks, Iranians, Pakistanis, and Afghanis (also green eyes for the Afghanis). They rarely show up among the Arabs; the only blue-eyed Arab I can think of is Bashar Assad (and a mutant he is!)
Simple it makes the person unusual in a non-crippling way. In other words attractive.
It is like when naturalist band a male crow. The male crow becomes a more attractive mate to the females. The male crow is not in any way different form any other healthy male crow but the band makes him different and in a way more attractive.
Blue eyes are the same sort of being different.
Except that people, unlike animals, should chose their spouse based on individual qualities and the kind of person they are, not solely on how they look. Unfortunately many people do not do that.
I’m either a mutant or a genetic freak. I don’t know which I prefer actually.
Wow! This means that me, my husband and all six of our kids are mutants! Cool
ML/NJ
LOL! Green eyes are mutations too, so is red hair. In cats, everything except the tabby stripe pattern is a mutation. Mutants are everywhere!
Well the way I see it the visual attraction is normally just the starter. Once the visual attraction gets the couple together (outside of one night stands) other qualities keep them together.
Yeah, that is true.
We also have lots of red hair in the family. My family is from Iceland way back(think Eric the Red). Always wanted a kid with green eyes, but didn’t get any.
Sometimes blue eyes have a ring of green around the pupil; mine do, and my dad’s do too. Maybe it’s a double mutation, lol
That sounds pretty! Double mutant sounds like a new screen name! LOL!
alas...
Blue-eyed humans have a single, common ancestor
University of Copenhagen | January 30, 2008 | Unknown
Posted on 01/30/2008 5:10:37 PM EST by decimon
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1962221/posts
Scientist: All Blue-Eyed People Are Related
Fox News | Thursday, January 31, 2008
Posted on 02/01/2008 2:03:17 AM EST by cate_wingnutx
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1963073/posts
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Whoops! LOL...I forgot to do a search. Also since it wasn’t a big news item or anything I didn’t think there would be more than one thread about it. Guess not!
This news is news?
It’s in chat.
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