[design219]

Blue-eyed Humans Have A Single, Common Ancestor

So, who are my long lost brothers and sisters on this board?

[badidea]

Howdie Bro!

[Cipher13]

Reporting for duty.

[Dakar the Fourth]

That's pretty damned cool.

[Cipher13]

Interesting indeed, though I'm wary of that article - some of it sounds extremely presumptuous, but I'm sure that's the fault of the ScienceDaily writers and not those conducting the research.

This in particular bothered me:

The mutation of brown eyes to blue represents neither a positive nor a negative mutation. It is one of several mutations such as hair colour, baldness, freckles and beauty spots, which neither increases nor reduces a human’s chance of survival. As Professor Eiberg says, “it simply shows that nature is constantly shuffling the human genome, creating a genetic cocktail of human chromosomes and trying out different changes as it does so.”

This isn't true at all. All of the examples listed can be considered either positive or negative, though perhaps subjectively (or geographically/culturally). Baldness, for example, reduces the perceived genetic fitness of an individual and therefore reduces their chances of breeding, to a point. Much like blue eyes make one more vulnerable to iris/retinal-scarring from exposure to sunlight, therefore potentially reducing our own fitness later in life (I bet all the blue-eyed members here wear sunnies outdoors most of the time).

Anyway, that's kinda OT, so feel free to ignore me.

[voodoo]

Hi guys!!

[zro]

Blue eyed devils!

Originally Posted by Cipher13 

This isn't true at all. All of the examples listed can be considered either positive or negative, though perhaps subjectively (or geographically/culturally). Baldness, for example, reduces the perceived genetic fitness of an individual and therefore reduces their chances of breeding, to a point. Much like blue eyes make one more vulnerable to iris-scarring from exposure to sunlight, therefore potentially reducing our own fitness later in life (I bet all the blue-eyed members here wear sunnies outdoors most of the time).

Except that: A) You inherit baldness from your mother, so even even if bald dudes never got laid, their bald gene carrying mamas will.

And: B) You blue eyed critters aren't native to areas of the globe where excessive sunlight exposure is a problem. Quite the opposite, in fact.

[Cipher13]

Originally Posted by zro 

Except that: A) You inherit baldness from your mother, so even even if bald dudes never got laid, their bald gene carrying mamas will.

And: B) You blue eyed critters aren't native to areas of the globe where excessive sunlight exposure is a problem. Quite the opposite, in fact.

In response;

A) Whether or not this is true, a bald male is still going to have less chance reproducing (all other things being equal - which they never are) than a male that isn't bald, and therefore is less likely to pass on his genes. Whether or not they contribute to baldness in his progeny isn't relevant.

B) Nativity isn't important - it's still an attribute that potentially makes me vulnerable to certain conditions given my place of residence, and thus may well influence my reproductive success (though it isn't likely as I protect my eyes well, and it wouldn't really become an issue until well after my reproductive peak. Nonetheless, the point stands.)

[Paco500]

Originally Posted by zro 

Except that: A) You inherit baldness from your mother, so even even if bald dudes never got laid, their bald gene carrying mamas will.

Oft quoted, not really supported by science.

Back on topic, my brother and daughter have blue eyes, therefore, while not blue-eyed myself, still related.

[Eug]

Damn inbreds!

Originally Posted by zro 

Except that: A) You inherit baldness from your mother, so even even if bald dudes never got laid, their bald gene carrying mamas will.

That is not true. Pattern baldness is a sex-influenced trait, not a sex-linked trait.

Males with early pattern baldness can transmit this to their sons. They don't generally visibly transmit this to their daughters, because in women it's recessive. ie. Women generally don't have pattern baldness even if they carry the gene. However, those daughters can transmit it to their sons.

To put it another way:

Men - baldness gene x 1, normal gene x 1 = bald. That baldness gene can come from either parent.
Women - baldness gene x 1, normal gene x 1 = not bald

[::maroma::]

My eyes are more Periwinkle with cyan highlights.

And I have freckles.

[Doofy]

I have no idea what colour my eyes are. I really can't make out it they're blue, green or grey.

[design219]

Take off the sunglasses Doofy.

[Doofy]

I was peering over the top of them in a rockstarish manner. Does that count?

[MacinTommy]

I guess we're all just "Blue-eyed Devils" ... ask a black person if you dont get it.

[Kerrigan]

Don't we all have a single common ancestor? Some lobster or something that mutated into something else that mutated into us?

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan 

Don't we all have a single common ancestor? Some lobster or something that mutated into something else that mutated into us?

It'd have to be like just one lobster or something wouldn't it? I suspect that there was a bunch of lobsters else the little lone guy would have been a bit too busy having fun with himself to bother mutating.

[OAW]

Originally Posted by Cipher13 

In response;

A) Whether or not this is true, a bald male is still going to have less chance reproducing (all other things being equal - which they never are) than a male that isn't bald, and therefore is less likely to pass on his genes.

While this may be true among certain populations, it is definitely not a universal phenomenon. In many cultures baldness is preferred, sometimes even among women.

OAW

[Dakar the Fourth]

That's right, black guys can get away with their smoothheadedness. So many do it even though they aren't bald.

[design219]

Originally Posted by OAW 

In many cultures baldness is preferred, sometimes even among women.

Isn't the fully shaved head quite in style among men now? It must be working, or it would be out of fashion.

[0157988944]

Blue-eyed brethren here.

[Laminar]

Apparently I'm dating a relative of mine. It's okay, though, she's hot enough that I wouldn't care.

[design219]

You can't say that and not post a pic!

[Laminar]

Watch me.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

Apparently I'm dating a relative of mine. It's okay, though, she's hot enough that I wouldn't care.

I can't blame you, your mom is a total MILF.

[f1000]

If I recall correctly, blue irises are somewhat transparent to light. All irises dilate in response to low light levels, but a blue iris, being translucent, effectively creates a larger aperture for light. While the light that filters through the iris portion can't be focused into a clear image, it can be used to trigger motion-sensitive rods at the periphery of the retina.

In summary, blue-eyed individuals are supposed to have enhanced peripheral detection of motion at low light levels, a condition prevalent during the long nights of Nordic winters.

[hyteckit]

Wow, so the mormons were right.

[cSurfr]

Oh No! My Fiance and I both have blue eyes!

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan 

Don't we all have a single common ancestor? Some lobster or something that mutated into something else that mutated into us?

Technically yes. Going far enough back we are all related somehow.

Note that this work whether you believe in creationism or evolution

[Railroader]

Which one of you is the father of my daughter?

Wife, hazel.

Son and I, brown eyed.

[OwlBoy]

Neato.

[Cipher13]

Originally Posted by OAW 

While this may be true among certain populations, it is definitely not a universal phenomenon. In many cultures baldness is preferred, sometimes even among women.

OAW

Yeah, that's why I mentioned cultural subjectivity. Nonetheless, there will be a bias, whether positive or negative. That's the point.

[Helmling]

I have blue eyes.

Now, let us band together and bend this dark-eyed fools to our will!

Today, MacNN! Tomorrow, the world!

[Helmling]

Originally Posted by Paco500 

Oft quoted, not really supported by science.

Back on topic, my brother and daughter have blue eyes, therefore, while not blue-eyed myself, still related.

Yes, you "recessives" will be the overlords we use to control the dark-eyed ones in our new world order.

Bow before us now and we will grant you some power in the world to come.

...can anyone tell I just watched that Invasion movie?

[pooka]

Some cultures stick their arms into bullet ant hills to prove the ginormity of their testicles....

Aside from a few aberrations and cherry picked "cultural" retardation, I believe most mammals would avoid potential mates losing giant patches of fur.

[hyteckit]

Originally Posted by Helmling 

I have blue eyes.

Now, let us band together and bend this dark-eyed fools to our will!

Today, MacNN! Tomorrow, the world!

Oh yeah, dark-eyed fools outnumber blue eyes 100 to 1. Blue eyes are mutants.

[design219]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan 

Don't we all have a single common ancestor? Some lobster or something that mutated into something else that mutated into us?

Don't think you're weaseling your way into my family that easily.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Kerrigan 

Don't we all have a single common ancestor? Some lobster or something that mutated into something else that mutated into us?

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by pooka 

Aside from a few aberrations and cherry picked "cultural" retardation, I believe most mammals would avoid potential mates losing giant patches of fur.

Don't tell us - tell Hugh Hefner.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Isn't that the apology dance?

[osiris]

You are all a bunch of freaks. Blue eyes. Pfft.

My eyes change color from blue/green to green/brown, depending on mood. Like two optical mood rings.

[scottiB]

I have blue eyes, and I have soul.

[Sijmen]

And there you have it: the degeneration of the human species