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Genetic mutation makes those brown eyes blue
MSNBC ^ | January 31, 2008 | Jeanna Bryner

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 ...


TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: blueeyes; crystalgayle; eyes; genetics; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; iris; mutation; mutations; science
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A team of scientists has tracked down a genetic mutation that leads to blue eyes.


I'm a mutant! LOL

1 posted on 02/02/2008 1:02:20 PM PST by G8 Diplomat
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To: G8 Diplomat
She's kind of cute, but she's one of those mutants.


2 posted on 02/02/2008 1:08:23 PM PST by Always Right (Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?)
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To: All

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!)


3 posted on 02/02/2008 1:15:11 PM PST by G8 Diplomat (Creatures are divided into 6 kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Monera, Protista, & Saudi Arabia)
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To: G8 Diplomat
"The question really is, 'Why did we go from having nobody on Earth with blue eyes 10,000 years ago to having 20 or 40 percent of Europeans having blue eyes now?" Hawks said. "This gene does something good for people. It makes them have more kids."

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.

4 posted on 02/02/2008 1:19:33 PM PST by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: Pontiac

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.


5 posted on 02/02/2008 1:21:32 PM PST by G8 Diplomat (Creatures are divided into 6 kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Monera, Protista, & Saudi Arabia)
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To: G8 Diplomat

I’m either a mutant or a genetic freak. I don’t know which I prefer actually.


6 posted on 02/02/2008 1:23:54 PM PST by mainerforglobalwarming
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To: G8 Diplomat

Wow! This means that me, my husband and all six of our kids are mutants! Cool


7 posted on 02/02/2008 1:28:20 PM PST by Vor Lady (Empty text box seeking witty tagline for long term relationship.)
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To: G8 Diplomat
And in four trillion years, mega-changes like this might lead to a new species. (but it's very unlikely)

ML/NJ

8 posted on 02/02/2008 1:29:26 PM PST by ml/nj
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To: Vor Lady

LOL! Green eyes are mutations too, so is red hair. In cats, everything except the tabby stripe pattern is a mutation. Mutants are everywhere!


9 posted on 02/02/2008 1:29:35 PM PST by G8 Diplomat (Creatures are divided into 6 kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Monera, Protista, & Saudi Arabia)
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To: G8 Diplomat

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.


10 posted on 02/02/2008 1:29:37 PM PST by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: Pontiac

Yeah, that is true.


11 posted on 02/02/2008 1:31:15 PM PST by G8 Diplomat (Creatures are divided into 6 kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Monera, Protista, & Saudi Arabia)
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To: G8 Diplomat

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.


12 posted on 02/02/2008 1:32:26 PM PST by Vor Lady (Empty text box seeking witty tagline for long term relationship.)
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To: Vor Lady

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


13 posted on 02/02/2008 1:36:06 PM PST by G8 Diplomat (Creatures are divided into 6 kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Monera, Protista, & Saudi Arabia)
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To: G8 Diplomat
blue eyes have a ring of green

That sounds pretty! Double mutant sounds like a new screen name! LOL!

14 posted on 02/02/2008 1:47:16 PM PST by Vor Lady (Empty text box seeking witty tagline for long term relationship.)
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To: G8 Diplomat

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


15 posted on 02/03/2008 12:05:56 AM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__________________Profile updated Wednesday, January 16, 2008)
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· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic ·

 
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16 posted on 02/03/2008 12:07:05 AM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__________________Profile updated Wednesday, January 16, 2008)
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To: SunkenCiv

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!


17 posted on 02/03/2008 8:44:52 AM PST by G8 Diplomat (Creatures are divided into 6 kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Monera, Protista, & Saudi Arabia)
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To: G8 Diplomat

This news is news?


18 posted on 02/03/2008 11:56:21 AM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: SunkenCiv; G8 Diplomat
Apparently, this news is news. Wasn't a mutation occurring a few millennia ago being the cause of blue eyes the idea for generations?
19 posted on 02/03/2008 12:00:35 PM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu

It’s in chat.


20 posted on 02/03/2008 12:08:40 PM PST by G8 Diplomat
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