AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -So children look like combinations of their parents because they are. Each parent gives half of their genetic material to their children. The combination makes a unique combination of their parents genes. The scientific study of how traits are passed from parents to children is called ‘genetics’.

Detailed explanation-2: -It’s not uncommon for children to prefer one parent over the other. Sometimes this is due to a change in the parenting roles: a move, a new job, bedrest, separation. During these transitions, parents may shift who does bedtime, who gets breakfast, or who is in charge of daycare pickup.

Detailed explanation-3: -The autosomes (chromosomes 1–22) are passed down equally from each parent; one copy from each parent. Therefore, a parent and a son or daughter would share 50% of their autosomal DNA.

Detailed explanation-4: -Sometimes children end up looking exactly like one parent, or even closely mirroring a sibling, and sometimes they don’t resemble anyone in the family. It’s all entirely possible. Kids share 50% of their DNA with each of their parents and siblings, so there’s plenty of room for variation.