GeneTree Eye Color Inheritance Chart

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The GeneTree Eye Color Inheritance Chart is based on a theory that dates back to the 1800's. In only particular cases can it be used to predict general probabilities of paternity.

The Eye Color Chart can be used to determine:

1. The probable eye color of the child when the eye colors of the mother and the father are known, or
2. The probable eye color of the biological father when the eye colors of the mother and the child are known.

Background:

Eye color is known to have a polygenic inheritance pattern, possibly governed by 6 or more genes. There are also 6 different described eye colors. Basically, dark is dominate at each of the 6 genes. The more dominate alleles that you have the darker your eyes are. The different eye colors and number of dominate alleles suggested in this theory are seen below.

GeneTree Eye Color Inheritance Chart:

Conclusions based on this theory:

• 2 'light blue' eyed parents cannot have a 'blue' eyed (or darker eyed) child.
• 2 'blue' eyed parents can have a 'Blue-green' (or lighter) eyed child, but not hazel or anything darker.
• 2 'blue-green' eyed parents can have a 'Light brown' (or lighter) eyed child, but not brown or anything darker.
• 1 'Light brown' eyed parent and 1 'blue-green' eyed parent can have a child with any of the possible eye colors.
• 2 'dark brown or black' eyed parents can have a child with any of the possible eye colors (but it is unlikely they will have a light eyed child, such as light blue or blue).

NOTE: Eye color usually starts out much lighter at birth, and becomes its true color in 1 or 2 years after birth. Also, variations can also occur, randomly, causing deviations from the above conclusions.

Although this theory is very old, originating in the late 1800's, it still is useful in demonstrating; 1) how inheritance patterns were pretty well understood (by some) back then, and, 2) that eye color is, still today (even with the human genome sequenced), very difficult to predict due to its polygenic inheritance pattern.

In conclusion, eye color is not a very reliable or accurate method to use when attempting to determine paternity of a child.

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