... Why does it seem like I have my mother's genes only?

Question

I'm 18, female.

The only thing I can imagine I took after my father is his dark eye color (although the shape is 100% mom) and his dark hair color (although the hair texture is 100% mom)

Everyone says I look identical to my mother... and that my sister looks like my dad. I look absolutely NOTHING like my father... I can't find any similarities in the facial structure at all! Nothing...

He is short... 5'9" My mother is tall... 5'11" and I'm 5'11" so I took after my mother's height.

Personality-wise, my mother is exactly like me: shy, calm, and my father is outgoing, loud..

My mother has a very high metabolism, just like me... no matter how much we eat, we're always skinny. My dad on the other side, eats quite alot... and he's overweight.

Also I seem to have the same skin type as my mother's... not genetically prone to acne. My father had SEVERE acne from ages 13 to 18... and I haven't had a single breakout in my life.

How is all of this possible, considering that you get 50/50 genes... equally from both parents??

Answer 1

not all physical or psychological traits are conclusive of your genetic make up... some traits that you can acquire from your father are recessive and some do really manifest if you get older... that's how tricky science and genetics can be...

Answer 2

Genetics are pretty weird things. Have you taken Biology or any class where you look at gene grids?

Odds are, by pure random chance, your mother contributed a large number of dominant genes to your genetic makeup, while your father contributed a large number of... submissive? I don't remember the correct term for it. Point being, when a dominant gene and a submissive gene are contributed, the dominant one takes priority.

Another key thing to note is that the majority of observable physical characteristics are determined by relatively few genes. Odds are, you truly do have a variety of your father's characteristics - but they're not as visually observable as those you have from your mother.

You sister probably is evidence that your mother had some submissive genes as well, while your father has some dominant ones: she happened to get more of his dominant ones than you did.

It's important to note (which some of my preceding answerers haven't) that your mom's genes aren't STRICTLY dominant over your dad's - they just were in your particular assortment. If they were strictly dominant, your sister would look just like you and your mom.

An interesting sidenote in all this - have you ever seen one of those families whose 4 or 5 kids all look nearly identical? This is what happens when one parent has nothing but submissive genes (meaning their parents both had only submissive genes) while the other parent has nothing but dominant genes (meaning their parents both had only dominant genes). With this pairing, regardless of what genes each parent contributes, the product is going to be vastly similar.

Also, it's pretty debateable whether personality is genetically determined or determined by upbringing. I personally feel it's more upbringing, but there's likely some genetic influence as well. You, as a firstborn daughter (I assume), are naturally more likely to take after your mother.

Answer 3

Dear this science is about dominating and suppressed genes....what usually happens u get 50/50 genes from both but both cannot be dominating or else u will have to have to opposing characteristics at same time which is not possible so either of genes could be dominating.. and more over u are right now talking only of physical structure u might have other qualities of ur father...And it is also possible that these very suppressed genes might turnout to be dominating in ur kids genes or they might not....science cannot predict that....not now

Answer 4

hardrockingjoe... AWESOME ANSWER!

Now back to biology. Many above have indicated the whole 50/50 genetic contribution, and the whole dominant / recessive factoids. I must add one more KEY element though.

The environment plays a SIGNIFICANT role in how any genotype is expressed. Your dad's genes are in there and are either silenced by your mom's dominant alleals or your upbringing led to your more marionly traits.

My guess is though that you're "genetic" bias is purely social and psychological. I can sit here and come up with a million things I have in common with Abe Lincoln.

Answer 5

Genes are not split 50/50. Some genes are dominate and some are recessive. If the, let's say genetic material, provided by your dad contained mostly recessive genes and the genetic material provided by mom contained mostly dominate genes, you would turn out more like your mom.

The same thing happened in my family. My brother is exactly like my dad and I am exactly like my mom. It just happens that way sometimes.

Answer 6

In every organism, there are dominant and recessive genes. You've got a lot of dominant ones from your Mum. This doesn't mean anything really, it's all a random occurrence. Some people are split 50/50, some are split 75/25. It's all luck of the draw.

Answer 7

Yes, but remember genes can be both dominant and recessive. Apparently most of the genes you got from your mother are the dominant ones. As far as behaviour its debatable whether that genetic or learned. Its probably a mixture of both. My dad worked all day and I was home with my mom but I have a personality like my dad.

The only thing I have like my dad is my feet. Other than that my mom and I used to look like sisters.

Answer 8

When you were conceived, each of your parents passed along their genes to create you. But that doesn't mean you "get 50/50 genes" from both parents, technically. The dominant version (or allele) of each gene is what will be passed down to you. Alleles are the different "versions" of the traits that can be possibly expressed, or passed down to you, in your unique genetic code. It sounds like most of your father's traits were recessive, while most of your mother's were dominant.
This is likely why you bare more similarities to her genetically-speaking.

Answer 9

You're tall, skinny, with great hair and no acne.. I hope this isnt a complaint! lol

But to answer your question, its probably just because your mothers genes are the dominant genes and your dad are the recessive.

Answer 10

Your mom's genes are dominant over your dad's genes