A commonly accepted view in evolutionary theory is that blue eyes resulted from a genetic mutation that occurred relatively recently in human history. This theory is based on the idea that modern humans evolved from ancestors with dark skin and dark eyes, who lived in Africa.
According to secular science, this mutation is thought to have developed in response to migration to northern regions, where lower levels of sunlight may have favoured the emergence of lighter eye color. However, both genetic and linguistic evidence present challenges to this explanation, suggesting that the story may be more complex than initially believed.1
Genetics of Eye Color
Historically, it was believed that human traits were governed by a small number of genes. However, eye colour has proven to be far more complex.2 The variability in eye colour among humans is determined by the distribution patterns of a pigment known as melanin in the iris. Genetic research has demonstrated that this trait is highly intricate, regulated by multiple genes that interact with one another, with some genes exerting a more substantial influence than others.3
The variability in melanin production is primarily regulated by the regulatory sequence of a gene—a segment of DNA that binds specific regulatory proteins that control the gene responsible for melanin synthesis. Different combinations of these proteins interact with the regulatory DNA, leading to the expression of various eye colours. Therefore, blue eyes should not be regarded as a mutation, but rather as the result of a distinct genetic programme.
Recent Research
Recent discoveries have shown that the characteristic of blue eyes can be linked to some of the earliest identified human groups. In 2018, a non-religious study discovered this characteristic in the DNA of human remains located in northern Europe, believed to be around 9,000 and 7,000 years old. Interestingly, it was found that the remains also belonged to an individual with darker skin.4
A recent study also found the blue eye trait in human remains discovered in Israel, believing them to be approximately 6,500 years old.5 The study revealed that nearly 50% of this Middle Eastern population had blue eyes. This indicates that blue eyes were a common characteristic among human populations in both Europe and the Middle East thousands of years ago.
Conclusion
While secular science maintains that humans evolved from dark-eyed, dark-skinned African ancestors, studies of ancient DNA and molecular biology indicate that blue eyes are not merely a random mutation. Rather, blue eyes are an aspect of natural human diversity, appearing alongside other variants such as brown and green in different human populations, regardless of skin tone.
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Footnotes
- Tomkins, J.P., 2015. Out of Babel—Not Africa. Creation Science Update. Posted on ICR.org, 16 February. Accessed 8 July 2019.
- Tomkins, J.P., 2018. Human Traits Not So Simple After All. Acts & Facts, 47(2), p. 15.
- Eiberg, H., et al., 2008. Blue eye color in humans may be caused by a perfectly associated founder mutation in a regulatory element located within the HERC2 gene inhibiting OCA2 expression. Human Genetics, 123(2), pp. 177-187.
- Brace, S., et al., 2018. Population replacement in early Neolithic Britain. bioRxiv. Posted on biorxiv.org, 18 February. Accessed 8 July 2019.
- Harney, E., et al., 2018. Ancient DNA from Chalcolithic Israel reveals the role of population mixture in cultural transformation. Nature Communications, 9(1), p. 3336.
Compiled from: J. P. Tomkins, „Are blue eyes in humans a mutation?”, Acts&Facts, Institute for Creation Research, September 2019, p. 14.
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