Cheddar Man's DNA

[Lisajb]

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/science-environment-42939192

[Mowsehowse]

Isn't it remarkable that genome analysis can tell eye colour? 
I wonder if his siblings had blue eyes too - he might have been the only child of the parents that had blue eyes.

[ThrelfallYorky]

I must admit I did wonder exactly how they can decide on the actual eye colour! Fascinating, though.

[Mowsehowse]

I must admit I did wonder exactly how they can decide on the actual eye colour! Fascinating, though.

Yes. Fascinating....
I have been thinking about it, perhaps he was seriously unusual to have such dark skin with blue eyes - the two don't normally go together surely?
If he was, he might have been regarded as a demon, or used for a sacrifice, or perhaps respected as a leader and chieftan.

[Lisajb]

There does seem to be a possibility he met with foul play, according to this report.

[Erato]

Thanks, interesting article.

It took me back to 1959.  One of the few clear memories I have of visiting the English relatives is the trip to Cheddar Gorge.  I remember the caves and the cheese but not Cheddar Man.

[KentishChris]

Great article, a fascinating read!

Although, I have to say, my favourite bit is definitely the tweet from 'TheRandyCheddarman', "If they don't call this Cheddar Man 'George', I'm not playing anymore".

 

[nowornever]

and last night on tv they interviewed a direct descendant of Cheddar Man , who still lived in the area,.  traced through. DNA. Remarkable!

[pharmaT]

I must admit I did wonder exactly how they can decide on the actual eye colour! Fascinating, though.

A person's eye colour is determined by a number of genes with some genes modifying the expression of others.  Eye colour can therefor be determined by examining exactly what combination of these genes the person has.