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Have you ever noticed how your mannerism matches that of your dad’s? Have you looked at yourself in the mirror and noticed his features? Well, you are not hallucinating. At school we are taught about genetics and how we inherit our genes from our parents. However, in a recent study it was shown that what we were taught in school may not be all that accurate (1). Shocking isn’t it? It turns out that we are genetically more like our dads than our moms. But how is this possible and why? If you look a lot like your mom and nothing like your dad,you might think that this is a hoax, but this study shows that you are more like your dad in terms of genetic material than you could have guessed. If you’d like to know why you take after your dad more than your mom genetically, read on!
You Are Still 50% Your Mom And 50% Your Dad
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The age-old debate about whether you resemble your mother or your father can finally find closure with a scientific explanation. Each of us inherits our genes from our parents (2). Typically, people have 22 pairs of non-sex chromosomes and 2 sex chromosomes that dictate their gender. These chromosomes come in pairs, with each one being a duplicate; one from your father and one from your mother (3). The last two chromosomes are of particular significance since they determine the baby’s gender. The father’s contribution in passing on a specific gene plays a crucial role in determining whether the child will be biologically male or female.
What Part Do Dominant And Recessive Genes Play When It Comes To The Way You Look?
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Our looks are mostly determined by our parents’ genes, and some genes are stronger (dominant), while others are weaker (recessive) (4).
For example, the brown eyes gene is stronger than green or blue eyes. So, if your mom has brown eyes and your dad has blue eyes, you’re more likely to have brown eyes, as the strong gene from your mom tends to win. This means you’ll probably have your mom’s eye color.
Your Dad’s Genes Are More Prominent
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Irrespective of the huge influence a mother has on the way their child looks, recent research shows that mammals use a larger number of DNA from their father during the process of mutation (5). But it is important to note that the process has not been seen in humans yet. However, scholars call the findings of this research one that will open doors to new areas of exploration with regard to human genetics (6).
Ask Your Dad To Take Regular Health Checks
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You should keep an eye on your dad out of love for him, but there’s more to it. Since a father’s genes have a stronger influence, children are more likely to inherit health issues from their dad than their mom. The study goes further to explain that genes from the mom aren’t as prominent as those from the dad. This means that the same harmful mutation can lead to different health problems when inherited from the parents (7). It’s quite fascinating, isn’t it?
By monitoring your father’s health, you might gain insights into your potential future health concerns. Remember, it doesn’t mean your father solely determines your health, but if he has a particular condition or if diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure run in your paternal family, it’s wise to be cautious. Being proactive is better than regretting it later!
It may be hard to digest that your dad could influence you and your lifestyle so much but here we are. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though. As long as you maintain a healthy diet, work out regularly and take care of yourself, you should be as fit as a fiddle. So, did you know about this feature of our genes before? Who do you think you take after more in terms of physical appearance? Let us know in the comments section!
