Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
It was discovered that all blue-eyed people share a single ancestor who lived 6,000-10,000 years ago, marking a pivotal genetic mutation in human history.
Originally, all humans had brown eyes. A specific mutation introduced blue eyes, altering the natural pigment production process.
The HERC2 gene mutation switches off OCA2, the gene controlling brown pigment, leading to blue eye color in descendants.
Credit: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Every blue-eyed person today carries the same genetic mutation, a universal link to this ancient ancestor.
With only 8-10% of the population having blue eyes, this mutation is one of humanity's rare genetic quirks, adding to its intrigue.
Children’s blue eyes can turn brown as their pigment develops over time—a fascinating interplay of genetics and age.
Professor Hans Eiberg from the University of Copenhagen led the groundbreaking research, providing insight into this unique trait.
Credit: genmedhist.eshg.org
The mutation disables the OCA2 gene’s pigment production, effectively "switching off" the ability to produce brown eyes.
Blue-eyed people worldwide now know they are part of a vast extended family, connected through this ancient mutation.