Jamie's+Mutation+Project

toc  =Having Blue Eyes is a Mutation? =

ORI GI N OF THE MUTATI ON
According to new research, people with blue eyes can all be traced back to one common ancestor. Apparently only one person originally had blue eyes, and the trait must have been passed on. The gene is said to have originated 6000-10000 years ago. It is said that at one point in time, everyone had brown eyes. The mutation occurs with the OCA2 gene (oculocutaneous albinism II). It is a gene that affects melanin, which produces color in our eyes, skin, and hair. The mutation causes a change that makes the ability to make people have brown eyes. Because the OCA2 gene was no completely destroyed, only the eyes are affected. If the OCA2 gene is 100% gone, and human will have no pigment in their eyes, hair, or skin, resulting in Albinism. When the gene is in full effect, people have normal skin, normal hair, and can still have a multitude of colors of brown in the eyes.

The Hi story of the Mutati on
It is said that the first person to have the genetically mutated OCA2 gene did not have blue eyes, neither did the children of this ancestor. It was first apparent when the cousins of the grandchildren, and the grandchildren themselves reproduced to form little blue eyed babies (Marriage of cousins was very prevalent through human history). It is one of several genes that do not limit a humans chances for survival. Mutations related to the blue eyes mutation are baldness, freckles, and beauty spots. All of these are technically genetic mutations, but they do not harm the humans life.

Stati sti cs on Blue Eyed People
Out of 800 people tested for the genetic mutation, only one person did not fit the pattern. His eyes were blue with brown spots, and scientists do not know what mutation occurred in his eye color. Also, the world in 10,000 years has gone from having 0 people with blue eyes, to having 40 percent of people with blue eyes, making it the most rapidly transmitted genetic mutation known by scientists. Statistically people with blue eyes produce the most children as well.

Effects of Blue Eyes
People with blue eyes retain their 20/20 vision for less time in life than people with brown or green eyes. People with blue eyes have less reflective material in their iris so that sunlight is absorbed more against the optic nerve. People with blue eyes often will get headaches when out in the sun for too long, the lighter shade of blue, the harsher the headaches will be. Also blue eyed people are more likely to mate with other blue eyed people than any other color of eye. This would continue the trait strongly. Brown and Green eyed people show a varied amount of different colors of eyes in people they pair up with.

h[|ttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080130170343.htm] []