2010 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript
This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2010. The NHGRI Director and many genomics experts from across NHGRI took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.
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How many genes code for eye colors?
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Dawn Peck, M.S.:
I have been the coordinator for Biochemical Genetics Clinic at the University of Missouri Health Care since 2000. My primary interests are newborn screening and public health genetics.
In humans three genes involved in eye color are known. They explain typical patterns of inheritance of brown, green, and blue eye colors. However, they don't explain everything. Grey eye color, Hazel eye color, and multiple shades of blue, brown, green, and grey are not explained. Eye color at birth is often blue, and later turns to a darker color. An additional gene for green is also postulated, and there are reports of blue eyed parents producing brown eyed children (which the three known genes can't easily explain!). In summary, it is a very complicated multiple gene process!!! |
| Belle HS in MO (11th grade student) |
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