MadSci Network: Genetics |
I'm not sure how old you are so I hope this is not too complicated. Your parents each gave you half of their genes. Their genes control what they and you look like. You got half of your dad's genes and half of your mum's genes so that it why you look the way you do. Now, your brother also got half of your dad's genes and half of your mum's but not necessarily the same half you got. You will both have some the same but you will also have some different ones. That is why youlook alike (because you share some genes) but also a bit different (because you don't share all your genes). Think of it like this. Imagine that your mum had a handful of coloured sweets. If she, without looking at them, gave you half of the sweets then you would get certain colours - say red ones and blue ones. Now, if she took a handful of all the same colours as last time and gave your brother half of them he might get some blue ones but say he also got some yellow ones - the sweets are like genes - you get a mixture - do you understand now? Hope this helped. Best wishes, Yvonne
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Genetics.