Genetics: if I look like my dad does that mean I have my mum's insides?

Question

My parents are both one of 12. My mum is healthy and so are most of her brothers and sisters, but my dad isn't particularly and neither are (were) his brothers/sisters - heart disease, stroke and cancer have taken most of them. They both had relatively similar upbringings - poor with not much to go round. I have a similar look and body-shape (unfortunatley as I am a woman) to my dad so could that mean I have my mum's half of my genes in my physiological make up? Or am I just fooling myself?

Answer 1

Genes don't share themselves like that. Mostly you have a 50% chance of getting those genes.

There are some genes that are only passed from the mother but they are in the mitochondrial DNA only and are only a very small part.

Just look on the bright size. At least you can borrow your dad's clothing.

Answer 2

Your genes are a total mix of both of your parents' genes and all their ancestors genes too.
Your dads sperm will not carry exactly the same genes as he does himself (they are all shuffled up when sperms are made in the testes). Your mum's egg will not carry the same genes as she does herself again they are all shuffled up during a process called meiosis when the eggs are made in the ovaries.
You are a UNIQUE combination of all these mixtures and you will have genes from both your parents in every cell in your body and these genes will control all your body functions not just what you LOOK like but how everything works!
Some genes contribute to heart disease and cancer, but its just the luck of the draw, no guarantees either way! Make themost of what you've got and ENJOY life.

Answer 3

Your appearance is part of your physiological makeup. You're not necessarily "fooling yourself," but there is a definite chance you may have inherited one or more of the risk factors for said illnesses from your father. However, your mother's genes may have "dominated" (genetic dominance - her genes masking those you inherited from your father, thus becoming your phenotype -- what is portrayed in nature, which are your characteristics in this case) those inherited from your father. I suppose the only way you can truly tell is to have regular health checkups to make sure you're not already at risk or developing any risk for the ailments that have plagued your father's bloodline.

Answer 4

do not b stupid 2 ask that question. U R pleased with what u have have been given. One does not take precisely an identical hues of visual attraction as of their parents. Genes have a fantastically complicated device of foundation & branch ensuing in version of a individual's visual attraction. The parentage is desperate with the help of having DNA tests of parents & their little ones yet as I stated before, u do not would desire to pass by using all this. relax & have fun with ur parents' company as long because it lasts.

Answer 5

Half of your genes comes from Dad and half comes from Mom. You are a unique combination of both parents genes.

Answer 6

Er..... No!
Much more complicated than that.
Also you have to remember that the diseases which killed your family are really the only major, common ones left.
We don't die of things like T.B. (consumption), typhoid, smallpox, dysentery, whopping cough, measles, and so on any more. Those diseases 100 odd years ago would have taken your family off years before they fell prey to the degenerative common killers now, like heart disease, cancer and strokes.

Answer 7

Not necessarily. I look like my mom and I've had all the same physical problems she has had. Does that mean I don't have my dad's genes? No, I just got a lot of recessives from him. It all depends on what you are recessive for. Its much more complicated that that. But just because you look like one doesn't mean you age like the other. If they both have a history of health problems in themselves and in the family then you need to watch yourself and start taking care of yourself.

Answer 8

you could be but that is really really unlikely