Everyone With Blue Eyes May Descend From a Single Human Ancestor

In 2008, a study led by Hans Eiberg from the University of Copenhagen claimed that all blue eyes link back to a single ancestor who lived between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago. The concept has continually cropped up in news stories and social media posts over the 15 years since the paper was released. Simply put, we remain enamored.

But where did the concept come from? That 2008 study in was built on research that started in 1996, and it all focused on genetic exploration of the OCA2 gene.
The research shows that the OCA2 gene codes play a key role in the production of melanin, the pigment that colors hair, skin, and eyes. Eiberg's theory is that a mutation occurred between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago that switched on the ability for the gene to dilute brown eyes to blue.
"Originally, we all had brown eyes," he said in 2008. "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."
Everyone With Blue Eyes May Descend From a Single Human Ancestor