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Found this interesting description of genetics relating to heterochromia on the

following website:

http://www.sciam.com/askexpert_question.cfm?articleID=00015D35-7293-1C71-9EB7809\

EC588F2D7

Have fun.

______________________________________

K.

How does someone get two different-colored eyes?

,

Mead, Wash.

J. Gross, co-director of the Division of Reproductive Genetics at the

Montefiore Medical Center and an associate professor at Albert Einstein College

of Medicine, provides this explanation.

Eye color is a manifestation of the pigment that is present in the iris. Brown

eyes are rich in melanin deposits, and blue eyes indicate a lack of melanin.

The melanocytes of the iris rest in a richly innervated psuedosyncytium, which

is necessary to maintain eye color. Two genes control eye color: EYCL3, found

on chromosome 15, which codes for brown/blue eye color (BEY), and EYCL1, found

on chromosome 19, which codes for green/blue eye color (GEY). Although

previously believed to be inherited in simple Mendelian fashion, eye color has

proved to be a polygenic trait. Precisely how these genes interact to provide

the full constellation of colors, such as hazel and gray, is as yet unknown.

Furthermore, other genes may determine the pattern and placement of pigment in

the iris, thereby accounting for solid brown as opposed to rays of color.

Heterochromia iridium (two different-colored eyes within a single individual)

and heterochromia iridis (a variety of color within a single iris) are

relatively rare in humans and result from increased or decreased pigmentation

of the iris. Most cases are isolated and sporadic, conceivably resulting from

an alteration in the expression of the above-mentioned genes (and those we have

yet to find) within the cells of the entire iris or even a particular section.

Other potential causes include trauma around the time of birth or later in

life, congenital pigmented nevi or even medications such as those used in the

treatment of glaucoma. There are a few well-known syndromes of which

heterochromia iridis is a striking feature. Waardenburg syndrome type 1, an

autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the PAX3 gene, is

characterized by pigmentary disturbances of the iris, hair and skin, as well as

congenital sensorineural hearing loss. But two different eye colors tends to be

an isolated finding, which adds to the seemingly endless and fascinating

variation in humans' physical characteristics.

Answer posted on November 03, 2001

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  • 2 years later...

I have a hardcopy and also on-line access. Send me an email and I

can attach I think.

Best wishes,

>

>

> In a message dated 28/11/2006 09:13:14 GMT Standard Time,

> claire_downey@... writes:

>

> Does anyone subscribe to this publication? Apparently there has

been

> some interesting articles lately but I couldn't get access.

>

>

>

>

>

> My husband has been reading them (somewhere - hmmm, now I wonder

where?)

> sorry, I digress, yes, I would be interested in reading them too if

anyone has

> an online sub and could post them. The last one he told me about

included

> interesting tests for early dx.

>

> I'll see if I can find them anywhere....

>

> Darla

>

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