How come we aren't clone copies of our parents?

Question

I know some stuff about it, I would like the details in scientific terms, I know about chromosomes and alleles, so please answer.

I'm looking more along the lines of meiosis and crossing over, sorry, also, I didnt mean that I am an exact copy of each, but instead why don't we have traits that are immediately identical to parental traits, like, why dont we have the same looking nose as either our mom or dad, I have a good idea of what it is, but I want your clarification.

Answer 1

because of meiosis which results in haploid cells (egg,sperm) that have different alleles in them due to crossing over and independent assortment.
when fertilization happens upon fusion of egg and sperm, the zygote you get has a unique combination of genes from the 2 parents---making the zygote that will undergo mitosis genetically different from the parents.

*alleles - variation of a gene. ex. gene for eye color: allele could be blue or green
crossing over- alleles at the same locus 'exchange'
locus - specific position of a gene on the chromosome
independent assortment - randomization of arrangement of chromosomes

Answer 2

Every human being has 46 chromosomes, arranged in 23 pairs, of which one came from your mother and one from your father. To be a clone of your father, you would have to have all 46 chromosomes identical to your father's chromosomes. Same for your mother, except of course the final pair of chromosomes would be an XX pair instead of your father's XY pair.

Instead, you get 23 individual chromosomes from your mother and 23 from your father, because each gamete (an ovum or a spermatozoon) has only half the genetic information necessary to make a new human being. You need both -- and the combination of 23 chromosomes from each means you can't be a clone copy of either one.

Of course, this also means you're not getting all your father's chromosomes -- because he has 46, 23 from your grandfather and 23 from your grandmother. Likewise, you're only getting half of your mother's chromosomes. So there's the second barrier to being a clone of either parent: you only have half their genetic material to begin with.

In the Web site I include in the Sources field, there's a short Flash animated slideshow that outlines the structure of chromosomes and the fact that we have 23 pairs, or 46 total chromosomes, that define our genetic makeup. It's a good overview, and while it may be a little simplistic in some ways, it's an exact and concise visual answer to your question.

Answer 3

We are not clone copies of our parents because each of their sets of DNA ( deoxy-ribonucleic acid) contains a different set of DNA. When that DNA for X and Y chromosomes (or male and female) unite it splits therefore taking traits from each parent. There is no way to be an exact replica of ones parent for that reason. Twins are typically formed when one egg splits and sometimes the results are identical twins and other times they aren't. But even with identical twins there is a unique code in their DNA that doctors can find-for instance if paternity needs to be established. If we were clones of our parents than we would only receive one set of DNA and this is impossible because sperm and an egg are needed to procreate.

Answer 4

The biological copying process is not perfect. So when the genes from ur parents are copied to create the embryo out which of which a child is formed, some genes are obtained from the dad and some from the mom. But in the process of copying, some of the genes are not replicated properly and leads to some mutation, leading to slightly different characteristics.

This is how the whole of evolution happened. Else everybody would still be swimming in the ocean! :-)

Answer 5

Because you get one set of chromosomes from each. About a 50%/50% genetic split. Crossing over and other recombination methods aside. The one set from each pretty well makes sure of no cloning here.

Answer 6

clones are exat genetic replicates of whatever animal or cell they are made from. if you were an exact genetic replica of both of your parents you would a) be 2 people or b) have twice as much DNA as any human has (you can only have so much) . As it happens, instead of having twice as much, you ended up with half from each one, that's why you can't be a clone of either one of them.

Answer 7

You don't need scientific jabber on this one....

It's natures law.

For instance, cross-pollenate a red rose and white one.

R + W = R, R, W, P

You get a pink one sometimes. But wait it gets better...

There are also latent genes... For instance, if you took the two Red roses from your new hybrid and cross-pollenated them, you might get a white one! (Even though both "parents" were Red on the surface)

Answer 8

we cant just be copys we are half of each you know we have a certian number of chromosomes from each parent we dont get them all from one thats why we dont look just like one of our parents or copys

Answer 9

DONT KNOW GOOD QUESTION BUT IF WE WERE ALL CLONES THEN WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO TELL US APART?