Eyebrows are taking center stage in the world of aesthetics, with styling options and even micropigmentation. In this case, this attentiongrabbing human trait has also caught the interest of scientists. At the University of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, a group of researchers decided to find out if the eyebrow is really hereditary. Does yours look like your mother’s?
See also: 5 things hairdressers would NEVER do to their own hair
Eyebrows: from expression to charm
Have you ever wondered what people without eyebrows would look like? Everyone is used to expressive faces. However, unlike eyelashes and other expression lines on the face, this feature appears isolated.
Located between the eyes and forehead, this layer of hair doesn’t seem to have much use other than making someone more charming. The Medical University of Rotterdam studied the functions of these threads in the human body.
Almost 10,000 Europeans, British, North Americans and Australians took part in the analysis. These populations were chosen because, until then, observations had only been made among Hispanics and Chinese.
The great mystery of genetics
After so many studies, scientists still doubt the true origin of the eyebrow. This conundrum of genetic science continues to occupy several research centers dedicated to mapping DNA.
So several questions remain: Is the eyebrow a genetic accident? Are they determined by parental influence or are they influenced by environmental changes? Nobody seems to have found a convincing explanation.
What is the true function of the eyebrows?
In addition to their practical eye protection function, eyebrows also play an aesthetic and communicative role in the human face. They are important for expressing emotions clearly.
The early ancestors faced extreme dust clouds and other hardships. This role seems to have lost some of its effectiveness as the eyebrow hairs are not always able to retain particles, preventing certain contaminants from reaching the eyelids.