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Black couple has blonde, blue-eyed baby girl, experts offer varying theories (video)
Her mother is calling the blonde, blue-eyed baby girl a “miracle,” but is still confused about “what on earth happened here.” The infant girl, Nmachi, was recently born to two Nigerian immigrant parents at a London hospital.
Her father, Ben Ihegboro said when Nmachi was born, “The first thing I said was, ‘What the flip?’” He noted that he and his wife, Angela Ihegboro “just sat there after the birth staring at her for ages—not saying anything.”
UK tabloid The Sun reports that Ben has no doubts that his wife was true to him and said of Nmachi, “Of course she is mine… Even if she [Angela] hadn’t been [faithful], the baby still wouldn’t look like that.”
Genetic experts are baffled by the baby’s appearance, and have offered different theories regarding her pigmentation, but have not ruled out albinism, according to the BBC.
One theory put forth asserts that the baby’s coloring may be the result of a genetic mutation that is unique only to her. Another possible explanation is that Ben and Angela have carried long dormant Caucasian DNA that has now been passed on to Nmachi—which could have been in their family for generations.
Bryan Sykes, Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Oxford told the BBC “We are all of us genetic mixtures to some extent and occasionally you’ll have a convergence of the pale versions of these genes in African Americans and African Caribbeans who have a mixed black and white ancestry.”
He added, “But that doesn’t seem to be the case here. The parents are Nigerians with little known white ancestry at all.” Sykes believe that Nmachi’s complexion is a genetic mutation within her that she will likely pass on to her children.
Others believe albinism, which can range in severity from Type 1 to 4, may be the reason for Nmachi’s pigmentation.
The BBC reports that both parents may carry a copy of the albino gene without it having surfaced in either of their families for many years.
Professor Ian Jackson of Human Genetics Unit at the Medical Research Council said “This is perhaps one of the most common recessive disorders in Nigeria, and we have to remember that it comes in different forms.”
Health risks related to albinism include vision problems and sun damage to skin.
Her mother is calling the blonde, blue-eyed baby girl a “miracle,” but is still confused about “what on earth happened here.” The infant girl, Nmachi, was recently born to two Nigerian immigrant parents at a London hospital.
Her father, Ben Ihegboro said when Nmachi was born, “The first thing I said was, ‘What the flip?’” He noted that he and his wife, Angela Ihegboro “just sat there after the birth staring at her for ages—not saying anything.”
UK tabloid The Sun reports that Ben has no doubts that his wife was true to him and said of Nmachi, “Of course she is mine… Even if she [Angela] hadn’t been [faithful], the baby still wouldn’t look like that.”
Genetic experts are baffled by the baby’s appearance, and have offered different theories regarding her pigmentation, but have not ruled out albinism, according to the BBC.
One theory put forth asserts that the baby’s coloring may be the result of a genetic mutation that is unique only to her. Another possible explanation is that Ben and Angela have carried long dormant Caucasian DNA that has now been passed on to Nmachi—which could have been in their family for generations.
Bryan Sykes, Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Oxford told the BBC “We are all of us genetic mixtures to some extent and occasionally you’ll have a convergence of the pale versions of these genes in African Americans and African Caribbeans who have a mixed black and white ancestry.”
He added, “But that doesn’t seem to be the case here. The parents are Nigerians with little known white ancestry at all.” Sykes believe that Nmachi’s complexion is a genetic mutation within her that she will likely pass on to her children.
Others believe albinism, which can range in severity from Type 1 to 4, may be the reason for Nmachi’s pigmentation.
The BBC reports that both parents may carry a copy of the albino gene without it having surfaced in either of their families for many years.
Professor Ian Jackson of Human Genetics Unit at the Medical Research Council said “This is perhaps one of the most common recessive disorders in Nigeria, and we have to remember that it comes in different forms.”
Health risks related to albinism include vision problems and sun damage to skin.
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