Are we closer genetically to each parent, or to siblings?

[Wallace]

My mum asked me this today and I wasn't sure.

Anyone explain simply for me?

dunno, but interesting

wouldn't that depend?

ou can have a max of 50% of gebes from ach aprent in theory, although recessive dominant genes etc complicates how these would present themselves

With a sibling you could theoretically ahve almost (or all if identical twins) genes in common, or virtually none as they may have all the ones from the aprents you didnt get

There are geneticist on here (Tamum?) who could give you a far more correct answer though

Yes, I think it depends too.

Siblings may be very similar genetically or very different - it can vary. You could potentially be genetically more similar to a sibling than a parent...I think.

You have 50% from each parent (more or less, ignoring the Y thing, and the mitochondria). You have an average of 50% in common with each sibling.

50% for both parents and siblings. Unless identical twin of course in which case 100% (although even that can be a little bit confusing in terms of expression when you get into X inactivation). Can be different if you're not human though. For example wasps are closer genetically to sisters than their daughters.

I think NQC and Peachy are right, until Tamum comes out and corrects us. But it's interesting how genes are expressed - my sister and I looked nothing like each other as children, each of us looked very like one parent.

We've grown more alike and now, in our 30s, we are so similar ds had a hard time telling us apart at his second birthday - hadn't seen my sister for a long time and kept giving her very funny looks: 'You look like my mummy but you aren't, you wierdo'.

My half sister used to look very like my other sister, they both take after my father. But they have grown apart while full sister has turned into mini-me. Very strange.

Thank you. I was thinking along those sort of lines

chuckle at "you weirdo"

He was very perturbed! Loves his aunt lots, not so freaky now he is older and we see much more of her.

As I recall it's 0.5 shared genes between children and each parent. For half siblings it's 0.25 (=0.5x0.5) genes in common, but for full siblings you have both parents to consider so it's 0.5 again (=0.5x0.5 + 0.5x0.5).

The expression of the genes is the tricky bit

theoretically (and its a long time since a level biology LOL) you could inheirt loads and loads of genes which are receissive to the toehr inheritesdones- so you may have completely different appearance and chracter traits to other members of the family. many of us like top imagine that is us . (I wish, complete tramgers approach me and know who my mum is by my appearnace). Expression of genes is complex and still being studied

Gess and NQC are quite right- exactly the same degree of relatedness for parents and siblings.

I recognise that feeling, Peachy. We moved house a lot when I was little but new teachers always knew who my mother was when she turned up for parents evening.

Can anyone explain this? My dd2 doesn't have a strong resemblance to either myself or dh. She does however look staggeringly like my cousin's daughter - they are even both very fussy about food. My cousin and I have different grandmothers and only have our grandfather as a blood link.