How do you know which things are hereditary and are some more obvious than others?

[Zephyrcat]

dp and I are both left handed (although me only for a few things, including writing)and dd is left handed. I have microtia, dp doesn't , neither of the children do (I assumed it would be genetic) DP has dyslexia, DD is very number and letter aware so far - is dyslexia something that develops over time?
It never ceases to amaze me what little traits and things that they are born with that have come from us!

I think dyslexia is more common in boys & is passed down through the male line. I think it is fascinating as DH has blue eyes & I have brown - DS has eyes that are definately a combination of blue & brown ! (no, not one of each !)

I am pretty certain that no genetic link has been discovered for dyslexia as such, or is likely to be, as reading is such a new thing for humans in terms of evolution.
I feel that ds's lack of physical skills have been inherited from me, sadly. But I could be wrong.

link here for genetic factors

It's something I am keeping an eye on with DS as DH is dslexic & was not diagnosed until late in his school life & his dad also was dyslexic to a lesser extent.

ks have lost your adress

Inherited colouring is certainly something I find fascinating, like Whizzz. My husband and I both have dark brown hair and dark brown eyes (and I'm half Asian), yet ds is blond with blue eyes. Weird (but nice) to see what is inherited when, isn't it?

I find the whole thing fascinating!! Genetics was always my fav bit in science at school. DP is a know it all so we always argue over what dd and ds get from who and who has the dominant genes lol how sad are we??????

There have been several genetic loci implicated in dyslexia, and it certainly has a strong heritable component, but it's not passed through the male line (or at least no genes have been found on the Y chromosome; they're all autosomal). Microtia is not usually genetic unless it's part of a syndrome (which you would presumably have mentioned!)

Handedness is a big mess to be honest- there are studies saying that the genetic component is very minor, but lots saying it's strongly inherited. I bet it is, personally

DD doesn't suffer fools gladly and neither does dh! In fact they both have the same 'dirty' look!! Of course dh will have none of it...

I love genetics too. My sister is blonde, her DH is dark like a spaniard (his father is) and their DD is ginger. Whereas my DS is baby version of DP through and through - his body language and looks give it away big time (must be why I love his big brown eyes and long eyelashes )

My mum's parents were both left-handed but no-one else in the family is, except DS1. When I mentioned to someone that it wasn't enough that he was dyspraxic but he had to be left handed as well, she said that he was left-handed because he's dyspraxic.

2 of my kids have auburn hair, as does my mum & her brother (& their grandmother). I got the mousey brown Apparently both of you have to have the recessive gene in order for your children to get red hair.

I am about to teach this (again!) to my GCSE class, so yet another question to Tamum.....

Is there any genetic reason why some people are born with different coloured eyes? Or is it just a developmental 'hicough'?

Thanks for that you are a gem! I would also have put money on it being non-hereditory, so there you go! A day is never wasted if you learn summat! And this is a bloody magic set of kids whould are bound to ask me this one!

You're welcome They must be pretty magic to ask that!

Just to give you an idea how wonderful they are, this was in the last lesson at the end of last term.

'Is the DNA code binary then?' Said one 14 year old boy

'well not binary, since there are 4 bases, but close to' sez I.

He then looked at me with absolute astonishment on his face and then said, 'But how on earth do you get from that code, to a three dimentional living thing?'

What an amazing question, you live for moments like that one, they are just so damn smart (and also very nice kids....I can't believe I take the cash for teaching them!)

Just found this and wanted to say hello to Zephyr cat - I have left ear microtia and my third child was born with right ear, so it can be genetic, but this is pretty rare!!