The genes for our eye color are located on two different chromosomes: chromosome 15 and chromosome 19. There are two main genes that determine eye color: OCA2 and HERC2.
OCA2 is a gene that codes for a protein called tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is an enzyme that is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that gives our skin, hair, and eyes their color. The OCA2 gene has a number of different variants, and the variant that you have will determine how much melanin your body produces.
HERC2 is a gene that regulates the expression of the OCA2 gene. The HERC2 gene also has a number of different variants, and the variant that you have can also affect your eye color.
In addition to OCA2 and HERC2, there are a number of other genes that can also affect eye color. However, OCA2 and HERC2 are the two most important genes.
Here is a simplified explanation of how genes determine eye color:
- Brown eyes: People with brown eyes have two copies of the OCA2 gene that produce a lot of melanin.
- Blue eyes: People with blue eyes have two copies of the OCA2 gene that produce very little melanin.
- Green eyes: People with green eyes have one copy of the OCA2 gene that produces a lot of melanin and one copy of the OCA2 gene that produces very little melanin.
- Hazel eyes: People with hazel eyes have a mix of brown and green pigment in their eyes.
It is important to note that eye color is a complex trait, and there are a number of other factors that can also affect it, such as the amount of melanin in the iris and the way that light is scattered in the eye.
