Do Indians have blue eyes?

Answered by James Kissner

In India, it is indeed rare to find individuals with blue eyes. The majority of the population in India has brown eyes, which is considered the predominant eye color. Blue eyes are more commonly seen in populations of European descent.

Eye color is determined by the combination of alleles, or variations of genes, inherited from both parents. There are several genes involved in determining eye color, but the most well-known gene is called OCA2. This gene controls the production of melanin, the pigment that gives color to our eyes, hair, and skin.

Typically, individuals with blue eyes have two blue alleles in their OCA2 gene, while those with brown eyes have two brown alleles. Green or hazel eyes usually occur when there is a mix of blue and brown alleles.

Based on the information provided, it is likely that you have two blue alleles in your OCA2 gene, as you mentioned that you have blue eyes. On the other hand, your husband is more likely to have two brown alleles in his OCA2 gene since brown eyes are more common in the Indian population.

When it comes to predicting the eye color of your child, we need to consider the possible combinations of alleles that can be inherited from both parents. Since you have two blue alleles, you can only pass on a blue allele to your child. However, your husband can pass on either a brown or a blue allele since he may have one of each.

If your husband passes on a brown allele, your child will have one blue allele from you and one brown allele from your husband. In this case, it is highly likely that your child will have brown eyes, as brown is a dominant allele.

On the other hand, if your husband passes on a blue allele, your child will inherit two blue alleles, one from each parent. This means that your child will have blue eyes, as blue is a recessive allele.

It’s important to note that eye color inheritance is not always as straightforward as described here, as there are other genes involved in determining eye color. Additionally, there can be variations and exceptions to these patterns. Eye color can also change during infancy and early childhood, so the final eye color of your child may not be evident immediately.

While blue eyes are rare in the Indian population, it is still possible for your child to have blue eyes if your husband has a blue allele to pass on. However, the most likely scenario is that your child will have brown eyes due to the prevalence of brown alleles in the Indian population.