Inheritance and Genetic Engineering

Human eyes come in very different colors due to the pigmentation, just like the skin. The iris, which is located at the back of the cornea is composed of multiple layers. The two outer layers are jointly known as the anterior border (Anderson, 2012). The anterior border therefore contains cells known as melanocytes which are responsible for the production of pigment. Each and everybody therefore has equally the similar amounts of melanocytes, but the genes determine the quantity of melanin which they can produce. Melanin is also the pigment which ascertain a person’s skin color, hence if more melanin is produced, then the skin becomes darker. Hence if a person has a darker skin, then the eyes become browner.

Mendelian pattern of inheritance is a biotic inheritance which is controlled by a single locus in a pattern of inheritance. For example, a mutation of a single gene can therefore cause a disease which would then be inherited by other genes. These diseases may therefore include the following, sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis (Anderson, 2012). On the other hand, non-Mendelian inheritance is the type of inheritance whereby the traits do not segregate according to Mendel’s laws.

If a man is darker and the wife is lighter, then the father has darker browner eyes while the mother has lighter blue eyes, then the child may be born with white eyes. This is because when the genes do not segregate in a single locus, thus making the child not to inherit either the eyes with similar color as that of the mother or the father (Anderson, 2012). This therefore leads to the different types of eye colors, since the genes are not segregated in a single locus.

Reference

Anderson, M. (2012). A closer look at genes and genetic engineering. New York, NY: Britannica Educational Pub. in association with Rosen Educational Services.