Emilia and Her Eyes – Colors and Genes

Emilia had always had blue eyes—a trait that plays a special role in human genetics. Eye color is determined by the amount of the pigment melanin in the iris. There are two main forms of melanin: eumelanin, which produces dark colors like brown and black, and pheomelanin, which is responsible for lighter shades such as green or gray. Because Emilia had a low concentration of melanin in her iris, her eyes appeared blue.

As she delved into the science of eye color, she encountered the complex genetic basis of her blue eyes. Particularly important are the OCA2 and HERC2 genes on chromosome 15, which play a key role in controlling melanin production in the iris. The OCA2 gene regulates the amount of melanin, while the HERC2 gene influences this activity. A mutation in the HERC2 gene can block melanin production and often leads to blue eyes.

Historically, blue eyes were thought to be a recessive trait, but modern studies show that the inheritance of eye color is much more complex. At least 16 genes are involved, resulting in a wide variety of shades. A study of 195,000 participants from Europe and Asia found that over 50 genetic variants influence eye color. These findings demonstrate that the genetic inheritance of eye color cannot be explained solely by simple dominant and recessive patterns.

Emilia found these connections fascinating. She began to investigate her own genetic ancestry more closely. Through her research, she realized that the genetic diversity and evolution of eye color offer valuable insights into human genetics. The findings could be applied not only in forensics and medicine, but also help to better study genetic traits in different population groups.

Sources:

[1] Augenfarbe Vererbung: Genetik, Fakten und spannende Details auf www.rolf-spectacles.com

[2] Eye color – Wikipedia .de

[3] Woher kommt Deine Augenfarbe? – MyHeritage.de Blog

[4] Vererbung der Augenfarbe: So berechnet ihr sie – Eltern.de

[5] Augenfarbe Babys: Alles Wissenswertes auf einem Blick auf www.rolf-spectacles.com