Genes and chromosomes
Inside the nucleus of a human cell are 23 pairs of chromosomes. Along these chromosomes are “genes”. Genes control everything about you, including the way you look. Each of your cells has the same genes. You inherit two copies of every gene – one from your mother and one from your father. That is why you look like your parents.
Inheriting eye colour
The gene for brown eyes is known as a “dominant” gene – you only need to inherit one brown eye colour gene for your eyes to be brown. The gene for blue eyes is weaker. In general, a child will only have blue eyes if both inherited eye colour genes are blue. A man carries a gene for brown eyes and a gene for blue eyes, while the woman carries only a gene for blue eyes. One of their daughters has blue eyes because she has inherited two blue eye colour genes. The other daughter has brown eyes because she has inherited at least one brown eye colour gene.