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Claim: Blue-eyed humans have a single common ancestor

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They are saying that there were no blue-eyed people before 10,000 years ago:

New research shows that people with blue eyes have a single, common ancestor. A team at the University of Copenhagen have tracked down a genetic mutation which took place 6-10,000 years ago and is the cause of the eye colour of all blue-eyed humans alive on the planet today.

“Originally, we all had brown eyes,” said Professor Hans Eiberg from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. “But a genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene in our chromosomes resulted in the creation of a “switch,” which literally “turned off” the ability to produce brown eyes.” The OCA2 gene codes for the so-called P protein, which is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that gives colour to our hair, eyes and skin. The “switch,” which is located in the gene adjacent to OCA2 does not, however, turn off the gene entirely, but rather limits its action to reducing the production of melanin in the iris — effectively “diluting” brown eyes to blue. The switch’s effect on OCA2 is very specific therefore. If the OCA2 gene had been completely destroyed or turned off, human beings would be without melanin in their hair, eyes or skin colour — a condition known as albinism.

University of Copenhagen, “Blue-eyed humans have a single, common ancestor” at ScienceDaily

It’s a neutral mutation.

Someone should interview the prof on whether he believes that all humans are, in any event, descended from a single pair, Adam and Eve. Just for fun. See what he says.

Comments
Well News is right, Adam & Eve were 11,700 BC which is close to the origin of blue eyes. But I think the actual genetic drift has them coming from Asia through Finland and Sweden about 7000 BC. Contrariwise, the Neolithic evolution out of the Middle East, which was no doubt due to Noah's progeny, was definitely brown-eyed. So the evidence is against an Adam/Eve blue-eyed source.Robert Sheldon
December 29, 2020
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The assumptions and methodology will always result in a single common ancestor, just like cladistics. The result is not in the data, it is imposed on it.aarceng
December 28, 2020
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The earliest human settlements are all in Africa. Somewhere on that continent lies the birthplace of man. If we go back far enough along our family trees, we all come back to the same starting point. We are all of African descent. Every country in the world has people who are capable of greatness, but most are denied the opportunity to pursue that greatness for various reasons. Women in most Islamic countries have no opportunity to do anything. The majority of the Chinese will never reach their full potential as long as the CCP controls them with an iron boot to their throats.BobRyan
December 27, 2020
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>The “switch,” ...limits its action to reducing the production of melanin in the iris — effectively “diluting” brown eyes to blue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9lz_yzrGZwEDTA
December 27, 2020
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Bob
You might want to think about how appallingly racist that suggestion is.
I believe it's anti-racist. We are all children of the same first parents. Clearly, I'm missing what you find "appalling" here. Explanations?Silver Asiatic
December 27, 2020
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The last I read, all humans with eye color other than brown are descended from Neanderthals. I'm not sure what the difference, descent-wise, between blue and green. I read somewhere that there are blue-eyed Mongolians. There must be similar ancestry chains that account for other than BLACK hair. My guess would be that our Ancestor had both blue eyes and blond hair. He or she would have caused quite a stir in their man-pack. A blond-haired, blue-eyed girl in a pack of black-haired, brown-eyed folk would sure have been considered Magical.mahuna
December 27, 2020
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Bob O'H, it turns out you're a card! (a comedian). I don't know what eye colour Adam and Eve had, if we are indeed all descended from them. But this theory is consistent with them having blue eyes. How the other eye colours got started would then be a project for someone. I remember Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz asking "Can you dye my eyes to match my dress?" and being assured "We can!" That's how seriously some of us think anyone should take the whole question. But what people come up with is interesting.News
December 27, 2020
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I do not see how this picks out a single race or ethnicity, so I do not see how appallingly racist that comment was However if we’re all descended from a single common ancestor and it happens to be Adam and eve then we are all related and I don’t see how that can be racist as there is only one race and we are all descendants of the same two parents Now Look at your significant other and realize that you in someway shape and form are some distant cousin or sister or brother isn’t that freaky we’re all related if we all come from the same Great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great grandparentsAaronS1978
December 27, 2020
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Someone should interview the prof on whether he believes that all humans are, in any event, descended from a single pair, Adam and Eve. Just for fun. See what he says.
You might want to think about how appallingly racist that suggestion is.Bob O'H
December 27, 2020
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Cave paintings date back at least to 44k years. Many of them are in France, part of the blue-eyed zone, and many are in color. It might be possible to see eye color in some of them. I seriously doubt the 10k figure. That's almost within written history.polistra
December 26, 2020
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