The Common Ancestor: Tracing Back 6,000-10,000 Years
Tracing back the origin of blue eyes, researchers at the University of Copenhagen have identified a genetic mutation that occurred 6,000-10,000 years ago, potentially as a result of incest. This mutation led to the emergence of blue eye color and is responsible for the eye color of all blue-eyed individuals alive today. Through the study of mitochondrial DNA and the comparison of eye color across different populations, Professor Hans Eiberg and his team have concluded that all blue-eyed individuals share a common ancestor on Earth today.
The existence of this common ancestor sheds light on the evolutionary journey of blue eyes in humans. It is fascinating to consider that, at one point in history, all humans had brown eyes. However, a single genetic mutation altered the course of eye color evolution, resulting in the captivating and distinct blue eyes that we see today.