ladbible homepage
ladbible homepage
  • Home
  • News
    • UK
    • US
    • World
    • Ireland
    • Australia
    • Science
    • Crime
    • Weather
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • Netflix
    • Disney
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Videos
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Doctor weighs in on mind-blowing theory that every blue-eyed person is a descendent of one single human
Home>News>Science
Published 16:56 19 Sep 2023 GMT+1

Doctor weighs in on mind-blowing theory that every blue-eyed person is a descendent of one single human

A geneticist has had their say on the outlandish claim

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

A doctor has had their say on the theory everyone with blue eyes descends from one person.

I mean, on the face of it, it's a pretty outlandish claim, but apparently it's true, they've done research and everything.

It's common knowledge that blue eyes are much rarer than brown eyes, with Healthline estimating that between just eight and 10 percent of the world's population have them.

Feel special? You should do.

Advert

Speaking to Wired about the phenomenon, Dr Neville Sanjana explained that we can trace the mutation back thousands of years.

"All current evidence points to an event about 6,000 to 10,000 years ago that resulted in a mutation in a gene called OCA2," he said, responding to a disbelieving reader. "OCA2 is responsible for a protein called melanin in our eyes.


"That mutation occurred in Europe and all blue eyed people today are distantly related to that founder from 10,000 years ago.

"But it's not the only gene that's important for eye colour, there're about eight genes that we know about

that contribute to eye colour in humans.

"And even if you have the brown eyes version of OCA2, sometimes you can end up with blue eyes. And that's due to the contributions from those seven other genes."

But how do they know that it all links back to a common ancestor? Well, because every single person on the planet that has blue eyes has the exact same mutation, that's how.

Although there’s still a lot more research that needs to be done, it’s thought that the mutation could have spread when humans migrated from Africa to Europe, which would go some way to explaining why mainly people of European descent seemingly have blue eyes.

Everyone with blue eyes is apparently descended from the same person.
Getty

The discovery was originally made back in 2008 by a team of researchers at the University of Copenhagen.

The study also looked at the variation in other less common eye colours, such as green, which backed up the idea of one person originating the blue-eyed gene.

Author of the study, Professor Hans Eiberg, from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, told Science Daily: "Meanwhile, people who have green eyes can be explained by the fact they have a reduced amount of melanin in the iris, which is very different to those with blue eyes.

"From this, we can conclude that all blue-eyed individuals are linked to the same ancestor.

"They have all inherited the same switch at exactly the same spot in their DNA."

So there you have it.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Photo/TikTok/wired

Topics: Science, Weird, TikTok, Education

Dominic Smithers
Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers is LADbible's Editorial Lead. After graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History, he went on to write for the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express. So as you can imagine, he’s spent many a night wondering just how useful that second language has been. But c'est la vie.

X

@SmithersDom

Recommended reads

Ian Wright slams USA and World Cup of ‘chaos' after Somalian referee banned from entering countryKevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesDanniella Westbrook makes heartbreaking admission as she opens up on facial reconstruction surgeries(Mike Marsland/Mike Marsland/WireImage)Lisa Hogan urges fans not to visit Diddly Squat FarmPrime VideoForeign Office issues USA ESTA warning as Brits head to World CupEddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images

Advert

Choose your content:

3 mins ago
2 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
    3 mins ago

    Ian Wright slams USA and World Cup of ‘chaos' after Somalian referee banned from entering country

    Wrighty questioned the hosts as he reckons Americans will be 'embarassed' by the tournament before it's even began

    News
  • Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Foreign Office issues USA ESTA warning as Brits head to World Cup

    The World Cup is just a couple of days away, with fans and match officials facing problems entering the United States for the tournament

    News
  • Samuel Corum/Getty Images
    4 hours ago

    Donald Trump hits back after being booed at New York Knicks vs San Antonio Spurs

    The POTUS was pictured seemingly asleep during the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden

    News
  • Getty stock
    4 hours ago

    Apple and Google face UK social media ban as Keir Starmer issues Big Tech deadline

    The companies could receive fines or even criminal liability if they fail to comply

    News
  • Expert confirms theory that every blue-eyed person on Earth is a descendant of one single person
  • Every blue-eyed person on Earth is a descendant of one single human
  • Astronaut posts mind-blowing video from space that 'proves' flat Earth theory is wrong
  • Study finds that every blue eyed person on Earth is a descendant of one single person