• Question: why do we have different coloured eyes

    Asked by ledw to Christina, Colin, Jess, Samaneh, Steve on 19 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Jess Bean

      Jess Bean answered on 19 Jun 2013:

      The colour of your eyes is decided by the DNA your parents pass down to you. DNA is the genetic information that is stored in every one of the cells in your body. Normally you will have the same coloured eyes as one of your parents.

      Eye colour is caused my cells called melanocytes in your eyes. They produce a chemical (melanin) that makes your eyes brown. Blue eyes are when this chemical isn’t produced as much. If your parents give you DNA that tells your cells to produce a lot of melanin your eyes will be brown, if your parents’ DNA tells less melanin, your eyes will be blue.

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