OCA2 Gene

What is the primary function of the OCA2 gene in determining eye color?

• It controls the amount of melanin pigment in the iris.

• It decides the shape of the iris.

• It determines the size of the eye.

• It regulates the production of tears.

How does the HERC2 gene influence the activity of the OCA2 gene?

• It acts as a regulatory switch for OCA2.

• It produces melanin directly.

• It determines the color of the iris.

• It prevents OCA2 from functioning.

What happens when the OCA2 gene is completely non-functioning?

• The person develops oculocutaneous albinism type II.

• The person has green eyes.

• The person has brown eyes.

• The person has normal pigmentation.

Why was the idea of eye color being a simple dominant-recessive trait overturned?

• Modern research showed extra changes in OCA2 fine-tune pigment production.

• Scientists discovered that melanin is not involved in eye color.

• HERC2 was found to be unrelated to eye color.

• Eye color was found to be influenced by environmental factors.

What cultural significance did mutations in the OCA2 gene have in Europe?

• They contributed to the spread of blue eyes as a prized feature.

• They led to the extinction of brown eye color.

• They caused a decrease in genetic diversity.

• They were linked to the development of green eyes.

How is the OCA2-HERC2 region used in forensic science?

• To predict a person's likely eye color from DNA.

• To determine a person's ancestry.

• To identify the shape of a person's iris.

• To estimate the age of a person.