The Puzzling Truth Behind Blue Eyes: It's Not as Blue as it Seems—These Eyes are Optically Illusionary
Blue eyes, a striking feature in many individuals of European ancestry, are the result of a unique combination of physics, genetics, and human history.
Originally, all humans had brown eyes. However, a genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a 'switch' that turned off the ability to produce brown eyes. This mutation, which occurred between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago in Europe, is responsible for the prevalence of blue eyes today.
Every blue-eyed person alive today inherits this mutation from a single ancient ancestor. The Tyndall effect, the same phenomenon that makes the sky and ocean look blue, is also responsible for the blue color in the eyes of babies with European ancestry.
The Tyndall effect occurs because blue wavelengths of light are scattered more effectively in blue eyes than longer wavelengths like red or yellow. This scattering of light is facilitated by the iris in blue eyes, which bends and bounces light so that blue wavelengths reach your eyes.
Blue eyes contain very little melanin, a pigment responsible for the color of our eyes. Consequently, blue eyes may change as babies grow older due to the accumulation of melanin. Over the first few years of life, melanin may shift blue or gray eyes to green or brown.
In evolutionary terms, blue eyes are relatively new, a tiny genetic change that spread widely. Their visual distinctiveness may have played a role in their spread. The spread of blue eyes may have been facilitated by their visual distinctiveness, making carriers more noticeable and potentially more attractive.
It's important to note that the color in blue eyes isn't in the eye itself, it's in the light and how our brain interprets it when it bounces on our retina. This means that the color of blue eyes is an optical illusion created by the Tyndall effect.
The discovery of the single mutated gene responsible for blue eyes is credited to a common ancestor from whom all blue-eyed individuals descend. However, no specific person has been named as the discoverer of that gene in the provided search results.
In conclusion, blue eyes are a fascinating example of how a tiny genetic change can have a significant impact on our physical appearance and the way we are perceived by others. They serve as a reminder of the rich history and complexity of human genetics.
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