Brown eyes are brown because of a large amount of melanin present in the iris.
The amount of melanin, a natural pigment, in the iris's front layers directly determines eye color.
- Melanin's Role: Melanin absorbs light. The more melanin present, the more light is absorbed.
- Brown Eyes: People with brown eyes have a significant concentration of melanin in their irises, absorbing most of the light that enters and resulting in a brown appearance.
- Genetics: A key region on chromosome 15 plays a crucial role in determining eye color. Genes in this region control melanin production.
In summary, brown eyes result from high levels of melanin pigment in the iris, a trait largely determined by genetics.