Lily Miller With 8 to 10% of people having blue eyes, blue is the second most common eye color worldwide. A majority of these people are of European descent, however, Black people can be bornwith blue eyes even though it’s pretty rare.
You must first examine the origins of blue eyes, which scientists say is a relatively recent phenomenon, in order to comprehend how this unusual occurrence can occur.
This article will discuss the history of black people with blue eyes and provide a list of famous black celebrities who have the color.
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Can Black People Have Blue Eyes?
Having blue eyes is possible for black people.
However, blue eyes are extremely uncommon in black people, especially in those who do not have Caucasian ancestry. According to research, a long-ago genetic mutation is the cause of nearly everyone’s blue eyes. A small percentage develop blue eyes as a result of an illness like ocular albinism, which affects the pigmentation in the eye.
The Science Behind Blue Eyes
Early research from the University of Copenhagen studied 800 men and women from several countries with blue eyes. The researchers discovered that everyone in the group shared the same DNA sequence for blue eyes, which they attribute to a genetic mutation that probably occurred 10,000 years ago.
“Originally, we all had brown eyes,” The study presents an argument made by Professor Hans Eiberg of the university’s Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. “The OCA2 gene, however, was impacted by a genetic mutation that created a “switch” that figuratively “turned off” the capacity to produce brown eyes in our chromosomes.”
The OCA2 gene formerly called the P gene is a gene code that produces a pigment called melanin, according to scientists with Medline Plus. Melanin is the substance that gives skin, hair, and eyes their color.
According to researchers, the mutation changed how much melanin was produced in the eye’s iris. Blue eyes instead of brown eyes are produced because the melanin concentration is too low to do so.
According to research by Edmund Custers, a clinical researcher who has spent more than ten years writing about human anatomy and physiology, almost every blue-eyed person on the planet today is thought to have inherited the same gene mutation from the same source.
There are some exceptions, as illnesses like Waardenburg syndrome and ocular albinism can affect pigmentation and as many as six different eye colors.
Read about Are Blue Eyes A Sign Of Inbreeding?
The Blue Eye Mutation Come From…
The mutation that gave rise to blue eyes altered the OCA2 gene, a gene that codes for the production of the brown pigment (melanin) in our eyes.
“Originally, we all had brown eyes,” says Professor Hans Eiberg from the Cellular and Molecular Medicine Department at the University of Copenhagen. “However, a genetic change to our chromosomes’ OCA2 gene produced a switch that figuratively turned off the ability to produce brown eyes.”
The amount of melanin is altered in the mutation, like a mistake in the recipe for brown eyes. As a result, very little melanin is produced in the iris of the eyes, and because there is insufficient melanin to produce brown eyes, blue eyes are instead produced2.
The blue-eye gene has been passed down through families for 10,000 years, becoming widespread across various lands. If a descendant received the appropriate genetic makeup from both parents, they frequently have blue eyes. On earth today, almost everyone with blue eyes is thought to have inherited the same mutation from the same source.
A very small percentage of blue eyes are brought on by medical conditions like Waardenburg syndrome and ocular albinism. These diseases can affect as many as six different genes that control eye color and are characterized by pigmentation issues. The growth and development of pigment-producing cells are impacted by these medical conditions, which may result in much lower pigment concentrations than in the case of the OCA2 mutation, giving rise to more vivid (almost white) blue eyes.
Waardenburg syndrome also carries the risk of congenital hearing loss and heterochromia in addition to pigmentation defect. Ocular albinism has been connected to severe ocular defects like high sensitivity to light and involuntary eye movements, just like other types of albinism.
Read about Are Blue Eyes More Sensitive To Light?
The Most Blue-Eyed People is European Descent
In Asia and Africa, brown eyes are almost universal. In actuality, brown eyes are the eye color that is most frequently found worldwide. In contrast, Europe has the most people with blue eyes and the widest variety of eye colors. In fact, the majority of people in Finland and Estonia have blue eyes.
But why are there so many people in Europe with blue eyes?
First, it should be remembered that the blue-eye gene mutation originated in Europe. This could be one of the most significant explanations for the high percentage of blue eyes on the continent.
Partner choice is a crucial hypothesis. The basic idea behind this theory is that people in pre-modern Europe were much pickier than people anywhere else in the world. In other words, a European guy in those days preferred blue-eyed women to brown-eyed ones. This kind of selection could have increased the likelihood of having a child with blue eyes, which would explain why there is less variety in eye color in Europe than elsewhere in the world. Both theories explain why there may not be as many black people as other races who have blue eyes.
Can Blue Eyes Skip a Generation?
Blue eyes can skip more than just one generation; they can do so as well.
There is no guarantee that a parent will give their child blue eyes if they already run in the family. With the blue eye mutation dormant in the child’s genetic makeup, blue-eyed parents can give birth to brown or hazel-eyed offspring. When the mutation will recur is difficult to foresee.
Can Black People Change the Color of Their Eyes Color to Blue?
Due to their lighter irises—the part of the eye that determines eye color—Caucasians can actually change their eye color more easily naturally.
However, it might be challenging to tell what color the other person’s eyes are if you pay close attention to their appearance. Many eyes seem to change color in response to light, viewing angle, or iris changes.
specifically people with fair eyes. Light-colored eyes have spots of various colors that you can see if you look closely. Every eye is different because of these blobs. Iris is unique just like fingerprints. Even twins, who are genetically identical, have unique irises.
So always keep in mind that your eyes are special and one of a kind, no matter what color they are.
The pigment in the iris is compressed when the iris contracts, which reduces the amount of light that reaches the eyes and darkens their color. The color of the eyes will likely appear lighter when the iris is enlarged because more light can enter.
To regulate pupil size, the iris, a muscle, contracts and dilates. In brighter light, pupils become smaller and wider, respectively. Focusing on nearby objects, like a book you’re reading, causes your pupils to contract as well.
The iris’s pigments contract or expand as the pupil’s size changes, slightly altering the eye’s color.
Pupil size and iris color can both change in response to certain emotions. As a result, some claim that when they’re happy or angry, their eyes change color. As a result, people’s eye colors typically fluctuate in response to their emotions. When one is calm or joyful, their iris is more likely to enlarge, while when they are angry or tense, their iris is more likely to contract.
It is important to see an eye care specialist if your adult eye color changes noticeably, or if one eye changes from brown to green or blue to brown. Horner’s syndrome, pigmentary glaucoma, or Fuch’s iridocyclitis are just a few of the conditions that may be signaled by changes in eye color.
However, this is not how the color of your eyes changes!
The new craze of turning brown eyes permanently blue has taken over the internet. Many people want to give this idea a try even though it’s still debatable. There are two ways to do this: either by implanting silicone into your iris or by using a complicated laser procedure to remove the melanin from it. Both techniques have significant risks and should be used with caution because they have the potential to harm a person’s anatomy permanently.
The most popular temporary option for people who want to change the color of their eyes is to wear contacts that have colored lenses in them. You will look even more distinctive than before after completing this quick and inexpensive process!
How Rare It is to Have Blue Eyes?
Currently, according to WorldAtlas, only 8% to 10% of people have blue eyes. Professor Hans Eiberg’s research revealed that blue-eyed people all have the same DNA sequence, which contains a 10,000-year-old genetic mutation. Given that this mutation originated in south-eastern Europe and was subsequently introduced into Africa, black babies born with blue eyes are actually quite uncommon.
A less popular theory holds that black infants with blue eyes have Waardenburg syndrome, also known as ocular albinism.
Celebrities With Blue Eyes
Here is a list of famous black people who have blue eyes. Visit them to see how stunning this uncommon combination can be.
- Michael Ealy
- Stephan Belfonte
- Chris Williams
- Vanessa Williams
- Denise Vasi
- Jesse Williams
Why Do Some People Have Yellow Eyes?
When people refer to yellow eyes, they are speaking of the whites of one’s eyes (called the scelera), rather than the iris.
The whites of someone’s eyes can turn yellow for a variety of reasons, regardless of whether they are black or not. These include:
- Jaundice – the most frequent reason for yellow eyes. Jaundice, which can cause the skin to turn yellow, typically denotes a serious issue with the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas.
- Hepatitis – a liver inflammatory condition that can lead to yellow eyes.
- Biliary Duct Obstruction – The whites of one’s eyes can turn yellow if one’s bile ducts are blocked.
- Alcohol-Related Liver Disease – Intense drinking can harm the liver, which can result in yellowing of the eyes.
- Cirrhosis – severe liver scarring and dysfunction brought on by alcohol or viral infections.
- Gallstones – These may cause eye yellowing and bile duct blockage.
- Thalassemia – An abnormal form of hemoglobin is produced by the body as a result of a blood disorder.
- G6PD Deficiency – a genetic disorder brought on by a deficiency in the blood’s G6PD enzyme.
- Acute Pancreatitis – inflammatory pancreatitis
