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Why are eyes brown?

Published in Human Biology 1 min read

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.

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