All blue-eyed people have one thing in common

The blue eyes captivate by their unique shine. But did you know that behind this bewitching tint is a scientific story as intriguing as it is mysterious? Let us dive into the origin of this rare color and find out what it reveals about our ancestors.
A mutation that has changed everything

Originally, all humans had brown eyes. This uniformity changed about 6,000 to 10,000 years ago, with the appearance of a single genetic mutation on the OCA2 gene. This gene is responsible for the production of melanin, the pigment that colors our eyes, our skin and our hair.

But here's the subtlety: another mutation, involving the HERC2 gene, disrupted the functioning of OCA2. This "genetic detail" acts as a switch, strongly involving the production of melanin in the iris and giving rise to the first pair of blue eyes.

All blue eyes, one ancestor

According to a study by the University of Copenhagen, all blue-eyed people share a common ancestor. This genetic pioneer, carrying the initial mutation, would have lived among the first human populations to migrate from Africa to Europe. Imagine: a simple change in DNA has created a genetic link between millions of people over the centuries.

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