Uncanny Resemblances: Father look-alikes

By Esther

June 28, 2017

Although we each receive equal amounts of DNA from each of our parents, half from our mother and half from our father, we can still resemble one parent, over the other. It’s the exact mix of genes that we receive from each and whether they are dominant or recessive traits that determine our appearance, and whether or not we resemble one or both or our parents.

Recent research by the UNC School of Medicine reveals that mammals are genetically more like their dads. The research shows that although we inherit equal amounts of genetic mutations (that make us who we are instead of someone else) from each of our parents. We actually “use” more of the DNA that we inherit from our dads.

Do you find this true for your family? Do more of your family members look like their fathers?

In honor of Father’s Day this month, MyHeritage held a look-alike photo competition. We asked our readers to send in photos of family members that look like their fathers for the chance to win a MyHeritage DNA test.

The response was overwhelming! Thank you to all of our participants for sending in your wonderful photos. Many of these entries of fathers and children look like the same person!

Here are some of our favorite look-alike photos from those we received:

Patricia Canada (left) and her father, Anthony Marco during WW2, at age 18. [Submitted by Patricia Canada]

Patricia Canada (left) and her father, Anthony Marco during WW2, at age 18. [Submitted by Patricia Canada]

Wilbur Weigert (left) and his grandson Bailey. [Submitted by Amanda Weigert]

Wilbur Weigert (left) and his grandson Bailey. [Submitted by Amanda Weigert]

Gene Hilliard (left) when he was about 2 years old, and his great-grandson at the same age. [Submitted by Elizabeth Chantelle Kiphuth]

Gene Hilliard (left) when he was about 2 years old, and his great-grandson at the same age. [Submitted by Elizabeth Chantelle Kiphuth]

Loesha Donaldson (left) and her father. [Submitted by Loesha Donaldson]

Loesha Donaldson (left) and her father. [Submitted by Loesha Donaldson]

Nicole Kafton (left) and father Kirk Tippets. [Submitted by Nicole Kafton]

Nicole Kafton (left) and father Kirk Tippets. [Submitted by Nicole Kafton]

Father Emmett Scott (left) and son Rollin Scott. [Submitted by Martha Elaine Scott]

Father Emmett Scott (left) and son Rollin Scott. [Submitted by Martha Elaine Scott]

Father W. Dale Brown (left) at about age 20, in the late 1930s, and his son Randall B. Brown, also at about age 20, in the late 1960s. Each was then a college student. [Submitted by Randy Brown]

Father W. Dale Brown (left) at about age 20, in the late 1930s, and his son Randall B. Brown, also at about age 20, in the late 1960s. Each was then a college student. [Submitted by Randy Brown]

John Gates Ramsay (left) with his son John Martin Ramsay, together in 1980. [Submitted by John M. Ramsay]

John Gates Ramsay (left) with his son John Martin Ramsay, together in 1980. [Submitted by John M. Ramsay]

We were happy to reward Patritia Richards with a MyHeritage DNA kit as the winner of the look-alike competition! Patritia’s husband Bill below has an uncanny resemblance to his father.

Bill Richards (left) and his father Glenn. [Submitted by Patritia Richards]

Bill Richards (left) and his father Glenn. [Submitted by Patritia Richards]

Do the children in your family strongly resemble one parent over the other? Let us know in the comments below.

Tags: DNA, Father-child, Father's Day, genealogy, Genetic testing

Comments

Che Che Frazier

August 3, 2017

I look like a female version of my father my Grandmother and Sister would joke and say he spit me out! I even have his exact hand and feet shape.
Donde Smith

August 14, 2017

Our look alikes skipped generations.
Theresa

August 15, 2017

My daughter looks like my mother. I and my youngest son look like my father and my eldest son looks like my eldest brother with the same eyes and features.
sharon harris

August 15, 2017

I thought that Dale and Randall Brown looked enough alike to be twins–across time–but I enjoyed all of these examples.
Kathryn

August 15, 2017

My Grandson looks like his Grandfather on his paternal side at about the same age
Joanne Roth

August 15, 2017

I too have a copy of a painting in the mid 1500’s that matches my father’s portrait in the 1970’s. It is uncanny. The painting is a direct ancestor or ours, in Scotland all those years ago. They are almost identical. And his niece as a child is identical to a photo of me at the same age, also in Scotland. It is amazing to see this appearance carry on for so many centuries.
Lorene Brown

August 15, 2017

I wish I had of known about this because my oldest Grand daughter looks almost identical to her father when they were toddlers, including hair, eyes, skin tone, smile, etc. ! I showed a picture of them both to different people and they thought it was the same person.
Veronika

August 16, 2017

My sister and our father’s 3rd grade school photos are uncannily similar, they are identical except for hair (his: short, black and wavy; hers: shoulder length, dark blonde and straight)!
Rachel Jimenez

August 16, 2017

My oldest daughter and my great grandmother on my mother’s side look alot alike.
Mahdeene

August 16, 2017

My eldest grandson now has a son who looks exactly like him. I can upload photos if you wish.
- Jessica Katz
  
  August 20, 2017
  
  We had such a great response to the competition and we would love to do it again! Keep your photos handy and stay tuned!
Diana Barredo

August 21, 2017

There is a strong family resemblance between my dad, brother and nephew.
Oliver

August 21, 2017

I guess there is a survival advantage in looking more like the father as a mother is normally confident of the child’s parentage but the father may be more prone to worry that he is not the biological father and may not support the child.