Professor Andreas Wollstein and his team at Erasmus University in the Netherlands have identified three new genetic components that contribute to colour variation in human eyes.
They are the loci Lyster, 17q25.3 and TTC3/DSCR9. The first was already known to affect the colour of mice and cattle, but this is the first time the other two have been linked to ocular pigmentation.
This discovery provides a better understanding of the genetic basis of the colour of our eyes. There are more variations than we originally thought. Moreover, it could prove useful in potential criminal investigations.
From the genetic material found at the scene of a crime, it could be possible to determine the appearance of a person’s eyes. This would enable better identification of potential suspects.