DIMPLESBY

AMAYA TELLO ÁLVAREZ

MY FAMILY TREE

Explanation

Dimples are considered mark of beauty and loveliness. The truth is that dimples are actually genetic defects that are caused by shortened facial muscles. Generally, They are inherited facial traits that are passed from one generation to the next. Dimples often occur on both the cheeks. A single dimple on one cheek is a rare phenomenon. They occur due to:

Transfer of dimples from parents to children: occurs due to just one gene. The dimple creating genes are present in the sex cells prior to the process of reproduction. Each parent provides one of these genes to the child.  So, if both the parents have dimples, the children have 50-100% chances of inheriting dimple genes.

Dimples can be also passed through multiple generations. The frequency with which a heritable trait is carried forth through genes is called penetrance.

Apart from that, sometimes the dimples may also be caused from spontaneous mutations that result in a dent in the cheek or a cleft chin that leads to dimples.

Reduced penetrance allows a generation to skip having dimples, although they may appear in subsequent generations. It occurs when one person inherits certain genetic trait along with another trait that suppresses it.

I have dimples but my parents don’t. I think my dimples are caused by reduced penetrance because my mother’s parents have them.

Dominant: have dimples

Recessive: don’t have dimples

Male Female

FATH

ER

SID

EM

OTH

ER

SID

E

Aa aaaa aa

Aa Aa aa aa aaaaaaaa

ME

aa aa aa aa aa aa

aa aa

aa aa

aa A_

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