We Found a Bunch of New Eye Color Genes | SciShow News

TL;DR

Scientists have made progress in creating tear gland organoids that can produce tears, which may help in understanding tear-related diseases. Additionally, a recent study suggests that eye color genetics are more complex than previously thought, with fifty new genes identified.

Transcript

Thanks to Brilliant for supporting  this episode of SciShow. Go to Brilliant.org/SciShow to learn  how you can take your STEM skills to the next level and get 20% off  an annual premium subscription! [♪ INTRO] In the last few years, we’ve seen  scientists make big advancements with organoids — these are  clumps of tissues made in the lab that mimic... Read More

Key Insights

• 🍧 Organoids are clumps of tissues made in the lab that mimic the biology of organs, providing a model to study organ functions without having the full organ.
• 😂 Tear gland organoids can produce tears when exposed to noradrenaline, providing a tool to study tear production and related conditions.
• 😃 Eye color genetics are influenced by multiple genes, challenging the previous belief that eye color is a simple Mendelian trait.
• 😃 Understanding the genetics of eye color can aid in understanding diseases involving eye pigmentation.
• 😃 More research is needed to develop complete tear gland organoids and fully understand eye color genetics.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do scientists make tear gland organoids?

Scientists collect stem cells from mouse and human tear glands, grow them with chemicals involved in eye development, and expose them to noradrenaline to make them produce tears.

Q: What is the significance of the Pax6 gene in tear gland development?

The Pax6 gene is crucial for proper tear gland development, and organoids lacking this gene grow more slowly and cannot produce tears. Research on these organoids can help understand tear-related diseases.

Q: How is eye color genetics more complex than previously thought?

Previous beliefs considered eye color as a Mendelian trait governed by a few genes. However, a recent study identified fifty new genes involved in eye color, showing that multiple genes influence individual shades of brown and eye color in general.

Q: How can the study on eye color genetics be beneficial?

The study on eye color genetics can shed light on diseases involving eye pigmentation, such as albinism or pigmentary glaucoma, and potentially contribute to their treatment.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Scientists have created tear gland organoids by growing stem cells with chemicals involved in eye development, and have found a way to make them produce tears.

• The gene Pax6 is crucial for proper tear gland development, and studying these organoids can help understand conditions like Sjögren's syndrome.

• A study analyzing almost two hundred thousand people's genomes identified fifty new genes involved in eye color, challenging the previous belief that eye color is a Mendelian trait.