Expert: Dana Krempels, Ph.D. - 7/31/2007

Question
Hello!
My boyfriend and I are expecting our first child in Feb and I was wondering if you can tell me what you think his/her hair and eye color will be?

me- eyes: dark brown
   hair: dark brown
boyfriend- eyes: blue
          hair: blonde
maternal mother- eyes:light brown
                hair: light brown
maternal father- eyes: dark brown
                hair: dark brown

paternal mother- eyes: blue
                hair: brown
paternal father- eyes: brown
                hair: brown

Answer
Dear Marquita,

Hair and eye color in humans are controlled by several genes each, which makes predicting the outcome of a baby's genetics usually full of guesswork.

From the information given, and if you have NO blue eyes in your family tree anywhere, the baby will probably have brown eyes.  If you do have any light-eyed heritage, it *could* come out in the baby, as anything from hazel to green to blue.  But that depends on a number of different genes we don't know about from your description of your family's eye color.

Since darker pigments in hair (and eyes) are dominant to lighter colors, and will mask their expression if inherited, it's most likely that your baby will have some shade of brown hair.  The exact shade can't really be predicted, as there are many genes involved, and the hair will also usually become darker with age.

Whatever the colors, I hope you have a healthy, beautiful baby!

Hope that helps!

Dana