DON'T IT MAKE YOUR BROWN EYES BLUE?

On February 1st, Danish researchers announced that everyone with blue eyes is genetically related going back about 6,000 to 10,000 years ago when they think the genetic mutation occured - before this mutation everyone had brown eyes. After the announcement there were the usual inane comments about anyone with blue eyes being related to Brad Pitt or the Chairman of the Board.

I know I'm a bit late commenting on this, but on February 1st I was being ousted from my job, so I had other things on my mind. Like where to go have a drink. But being unemployed has opened up time for thinking about silly announcements from scientists.

Here is what I'm thinking: My brother has blue eyes. B.P. and the Chairman have blue eyes - so my brother must be related to them (if you follow the blue eye logic). But, as I am related to my brother, albeit with the brown/hazelish eyes, am I not also related to Mr. Pitt and Mr. Sinatra?

What about my sister with grey eyes. This must also be a mutation since they are not brown. What about those people with green eyes?

The thing is, if you go back far enough, we all have a common ancestor. Heck, just a mere blink of an eye backwards on the humans-on-earth time line, Barack Obabma is related to Dick Cheney. Yeah, it's kind of cool that they've narrowed down an approximate time when the blue-eye mutation took place, but, we are all related.

Interesting that the Swedes aren't concerned with the grey, hazel, or green eyes. A bit of ethnocentrism?


Hey, where do black eyes come from? Are there really black-eyed people, or is that a myth? I'd like to know how many people have the amazing violet eyes that Ms. Taylor got in the fickle roll of genetic dice.