If you are a blue-eyed individual, research confirms that you are related to every other blue-eyed individual on the planet through a mutation in a common ancestor.
Let’s back up. In a way, every human on planet Earth is already related to another. However, what is interesting about this case, is that a single genetic mutation in an individual that took place about 6000-10,000 years ago resulted in a blue-eye phenotype.
The OCA2 gene is responsible for production of melanin, a pigment that gives color to our hair, eyes and skin. A “switch” located next to this gene, that controls melanin production, permanently dialed down as a result of the mutation. This caused a “dilution” of sorts, turning brown eyes to blue (meaning, brown eyes are actually blue underneath). Although most eye-color variations can be explained similarly, blue-eyed individuals have an extremely small and similar variation in melanin content.
Eiberg et al., from the University of Copenhagen concluded that this is neither a positive nor negative mutation, just like hair color, freckles or skin color! These traits neither increase nor decrease the chance of survival. (BlackLives do Matter!)
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