Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Dana Lippstreu on 16/02/2009 18:07:12

Title: Why do people with brown hair have brown eyes?
Post by: Dana Lippstreu on 16/02/2009 18:07:12

Dana Lippstreu asked the Naked Scientists:
   
People with lets say dark brown hair always have dark brown eyes, how come if you have brown hair your eyes will be the same shade of brown?

What do you think?

Title: Why do people with brown hair have brown eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 17/02/2009 03:13:16

I'm sure that isn't always the case. But someone will know [:)]

Title: Why do people with brown hair have brown eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 17/02/2009 04:27:05

Both brown eyes and dark hair are dominant genetic traits, if you have two heterozygous parents, there is a 3/4 chance that you will have the dominant trait. If you have a heterozygous parent and a homozygous dominant parent, all of the children will have the dominant trait. If you have a homozygous dominant parent and a homozygous recessive parent, your children will all have the dominant trait.
Don't know about the shade though...

Title: Why do people with brown hair have brown eyes?
Post by: Kryptid on 19/02/2009 03:02:57

I have dark brown hair, yet my eyes are blue-gray.

Title: Why do people with brown hair have brown eyes?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 19/02/2009 07:07:25

Well there you are. [:)]

Title: Why do people with brown hair have brown eyes?
Post by: lyner on 19/02/2009 10:30:11

Quote from: Chemistry4me on 17/02/2009 04:27:05

Both brown eyes and dark hair are dominant genetic traits, if you have two heterozygous parents, there is a 3/4 chance that you will have the dominant trait. If you have a heterozygous parent and a homozygous dominant parent, all of the children will have the dominant trait. If you have a homozygous dominant parent and a homozygous recessive parent, your children will all have the dominant trait.
Don't know about the shade though...

Most characteristics don't fit this relatively simple model, actually. It's usually far more complicated than that because there are multiple characteristics and multiple genes involved.
I might suggest that individuals who were subjected to a lot of Sunlight would need both dark skin pigmentation AND dark eye pigmentation, as protection.  In northern regions, the need for vitamin D production would favour a lack of pigment. This common  evolutionary requirement would seem to cause the two characteristics to be associated to a significant degree.