Are green eyes caused by a mutation?
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Isabella Turner
Studied at the University of Melbourne, Lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Hello, I'm an expert in genetics and human eye color. Let's delve into the topic of green eyes and their genetic basis.
Green eyes are indeed a result of a genetic variation, but it's not typically referred to as a "mutation" in the way we often think of the term, which implies a sudden, potentially harmful change. Instead, the variation that leads to green eyes is a combination of multiple genetic factors, primarily involving the amount and type of pigments in the front part of the iris, as well as the scattering of light by the turbid medium in the stroma of the iris.
The pigment in the iris is produced by cells called melanocytes. The amount of melanin, which is the pigment responsible for the color of our eyes, skin, and hair, determines the eye color. People with green eyes have a lower concentration of melanin compared to those with brown eyes, but more than those with blue eyes. This intermediate level of melanin, combined with the way light interacts with the collagen fibers in the iris, can produce the green color.
Additionally, the light scattering within the iris plays a role. The stroma of the iris contains a lot of collagen fibers, and the way these fibers are arranged can scatter shorter wavelengths of light (blue light) more than longer wavelengths (red light). This scattering can enhance the perception of green color in eyes that have the right amount of melanin.
So, while it's not a mutation in the traditional sense, the green eye color is a result of genetic variations that influence the production and distribution of melanin and the physical structure of the iris.
Green eyes are indeed a result of a genetic variation, but it's not typically referred to as a "mutation" in the way we often think of the term, which implies a sudden, potentially harmful change. Instead, the variation that leads to green eyes is a combination of multiple genetic factors, primarily involving the amount and type of pigments in the front part of the iris, as well as the scattering of light by the turbid medium in the stroma of the iris.
The pigment in the iris is produced by cells called melanocytes. The amount of melanin, which is the pigment responsible for the color of our eyes, skin, and hair, determines the eye color. People with green eyes have a lower concentration of melanin compared to those with brown eyes, but more than those with blue eyes. This intermediate level of melanin, combined with the way light interacts with the collagen fibers in the iris, can produce the green color.
Additionally, the light scattering within the iris plays a role. The stroma of the iris contains a lot of collagen fibers, and the way these fibers are arranged can scatter shorter wavelengths of light (blue light) more than longer wavelengths (red light). This scattering can enhance the perception of green color in eyes that have the right amount of melanin.
So, while it's not a mutation in the traditional sense, the green eye color is a result of genetic variations that influence the production and distribution of melanin and the physical structure of the iris.
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Works at the International Development Association, Lives in Washington, D.C., USA.
A specific mutation within the HERC2 gene, a gene that regulates OCA2 expression, is partly responsible for blue eyes. Other genes implicated in eye color variation are SLC24A4 and TYR. ... Blue eyes with a brown spot, green eyes, and gray eyes are caused by an entirely different part of the genome.
2023-04-08 14:05:11
Daniel Martinez
QuesHub.com delivers expert answers and knowledge to you.
A specific mutation within the HERC2 gene, a gene that regulates OCA2 expression, is partly responsible for blue eyes. Other genes implicated in eye color variation are SLC24A4 and TYR. ... Blue eyes with a brown spot, green eyes, and gray eyes are caused by an entirely different part of the genome.
