Aboriginal blue eyes result from European admixture, not ancient heritage. Blue eyes in Aboriginal Australians are explained by recent European gene flow after 1788 The recessive HERC2 and OCA2 mutations can remain hidden for generations before appearing Waardenburg syndrome also causes blue eyes in some Aboriginal Australians
Blue eyes in Aboriginal Australians come from European gene flow after 1788, not ancient heritage. The recessive HERC2 and OCA2 mutations can remain hidden for generations before appearing. Waardenburg syndrome also causes blue eyes in some Aboriginal Australians. There is no evidence Aboriginals retained a blue eye variant from early out-of-Africa populations. Genetic dating shows the single European blue eye mutation emerged earlier than 6,000–10,000 years ago—long after Aboriginals left Africa.
Key Facts
- Blue eyes in Aboriginal Australians are explained by recent European gene flow after 1788
- The recessive HERC2 and OCA2 mutations can remain hidden for generations before appearing
- Waardenburg syndrome also causes blue eyes in some Aboriginal Australians
- There is no evidence Aboriginals retained a blue eye variant from early out-of-Africa populations
- Genetic dating shows European blue eye variant emerged around 10,000 years ago, long after Aboriginals left Africa
- Aboriginal genetics would not support blue eyes - they live under intense UV exposure and lack farming diets
Source: Why were Aboriginals labeled “Caucasian” for 150 years? (he really does have blue eyes) by Timeless with Fred Snyder