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Thursday, February 23, 2006

Genetics Is an Amazing and Scary Thing

Over the years, I have had many opportunities to ponder the aphorims (sexist though they are), 'Like father, like son', 'chip off the old block', etc, albeit in a tangential way.

How many times have you been at a park, department store, other public location and noticed the startling physical resemblance among a group of strangers? Without needing to know anything more about these people, you can tell that they are related, whether as direct family members or some branch off the family tree.

'Oh, yes, they all have that receding chin!'

'Wow! What beautiful eyes they have!'

'Look at that; they have the same tic.'

I am reminded of genetics again, because my brother and his family have come to visit. The melding of features from my side of the family and my sister in law's are quite clear, with wonderful results. My niece and nephew both have their mother's large and lovely eyes (luxurious long lashes included). Their pug noses are clearly from my brother. Fair skin, liveliness and hot tempers (the last thankfully seldom seen) have descended through both parents' lines.

My brother and I share most of our father's facial features and height (my brother is tall; I'm average. My mother is petite.), and my brother's voice is virtually identical to his. When my father was alive, he could almost always recognise a person's voice on the phone -- but he invariably had trouble differentiating among the voices of my grandmother, mother and myself.

So. My brother and his family have come to town.

People have said that when both children were newborns they looked exactly like me.

I don't see it at all.

posted by Cheshire Cat @ 2/23/2006 01:55:00 pm

2 teabag(s) brewed:

At 28 February, 2006 02:30, Cheshire Cat said…

But that's exactly my point; they're young and cute. I'm neither. :'-(

However, I am 'sweet.' I cannot tell you the number of times people have said that to me, even people much younger than me. At work even! >:-O

By the way, you should be catching some shuteye.
At 28 February, 2006 10:02, Cheshire Cat said…

I am not, not, not sweet! Stop spreading such viscious lies!

As for sleep, you get little enough as it is. Get away from eBay or i might have to take a hatchet to your plastic.