More than meets the eye! Study identified 50 new genes that play a role in the color of the iris compared to the one or two previously said to determine different shades
- A study identified 50 new genes involved in determining human eye color
- Researcher conducted the analysis with about 195,000 Europeans and Asians
- It was previously believed that only one or two genes were involved
- However, it has not been reported that many of the new genes determine eye color
A new study shows that the human eye color is much more complex than previously believed.
A group of international scientists have identified 50 new genes that play a role in eye color following the genetic analysis of nearly 195,000 people in Europe and Asia.
It was previously said that shades are controlled by one or two genes, with brown eyes usually dominating blue.
The team also discovered that 1,366 Asian participants with different shades of brown eyes had iris pigmentation variations similar to Europeans who have a wider range from dark brown to light blue.
“Our study results show that the genetic complexity of human eye color significantly exceeds previous knowledge and expectations, emphasizing eye color as a genetically extremely complex human trait,” reads the study, published in Science Advances.
A group of international scientists have identified 50 new genes that play a role in eye color following the genetic analysis of nearly 195,000 people in Europe and Asia. It has previously been said that shades are controlled by one or two genes, with brown eyes usually dominating blue
The study, led by King’s College London and Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, is considered ‘the largest genetic study to date’.
Co-senior author Dr Manfred Kayser, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, said: ‘This study provides the genetic knowledge needed to improve the prediction of the eye color of DNA, as already applied in anthropological and forensic studies, but with limited accuracy for the non-brown and non-blue eye colors. ‘
The 50 new genes were previously identified, but were not classified as a role in eye color.
For example, the team found eight of the genes were reported for genetic associations with other pigment traits, such as hair and skin color.
These findings will help to improve the understanding of eye diseases such as pigmentary glaucoma and ocular albinism, where eye pigment levels play a role
“In addition, we also identified 34 genetic loci that are significantly associated with eye color, but for which there is no report on the significant association with hair and / or skin color,” say researchers.
These findings will help improve the understanding of eye diseases such as pigmentary glaucoma and ocular albinism, where eye pigment levels play a role.
The co-senior author, Dr Pirro Hysi, of King, said: ‘The findings are exciting because they bring us one step closer to understanding the genes that cause one of the most striking features of human faces, which generations through us history has faded. ‘
“It will improve our understanding of many diseases that we know are associated with specific pigment levels.”
The color of our eyes has always been a mysterious wonder and is usually a surprise at birth.
With new technologies, however, people can choose the shadow of a baby’s eyes, along with other abilities and functions.
A form of gene editing called CRISPR is already being used by scientists in China to change disease-causing genetic mutations in human embryos.
And a study in 2018 showed that 39 percent of people would change the DNA of their unborn child to choose their eye color.