The Uniqueness of Blue Eyes

You might appreciate the beauty of blue eyes, but did you know they're technically a genetic mutation? Here's the intriguing part - before this mutation occurred, every human being had brown eyes.

The mutation, named OCA2, took place between 6,000 to 10,000 years ago causing the creation of a 'switch' which literally turned off the ability to produce brown eyes.

The OCA2 gene codes for the so-called P protein, which is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that gives color to our hair, eyes, and skin.

The 'switch,' which is located in the gene adjacent to OCA2, does not turn off the gene entirely, but rather limits its action, which reduces the production of melanin in the iris – effectively diluting brown eyes to blue.

Thus, the fascinating existence of the blue eyes that we see today..