Have you ever heard someone say, “You got your intelligence from your mother”? Or maybe, “You have your father’s nose”? Many of us assume we inherit certain traits from one parent more than the other. But what if some of those long-held beliefs aren’t true?

Science has come a long way in understanding genetics, and researchers have discovered that many things people believe about inheritance are actually myths. One of the biggest misconceptions is that intelligence comes primarily from your mother. It turns out, the truth is much more complicated—and surprising.

The Myth: Intelligence Comes from Mom

One of the most popular genetic myths is that intelligence is passed down mostly through the mother’s genes. This idea gained traction because of something called the X-chromosome theory. Since men have one X chromosome and women have two, some believed that traits linked to the X chromosome—like intelligence—must be inherited more from the mother.

The reasoning was simple: If intelligence is largely carried on the X chromosome, and women have two of them while men only have one, then mothers must have a bigger influence on their child’s brainpower. This theory spread quickly, with many articles and social media posts reinforcing the idea.

But as appealing as it sounds, science doesn’t actually support it.

The Truth: Intelligence Comes from Both Parents

The reality is that intelligence is influenced by many genes—not just one or two linked to the X chromosome. In fact, hundreds of genes are involved in shaping a person’s cognitive abilities. These genes come from both parents, not just the mother.

According to studies, intelligence is about 50-80% hereditary, meaning genetics do play a major role. However, no single parent is responsible for passing it down. Instead, it’s a mix of DNA from both sides of the family, along with environmental factors that shape a person’s intellect.

So, if your mom is a math genius and your dad is great at solving puzzles, you might inherit a bit of both. But it’s not as simple as just taking after one parent.

The Role of Environment in Intelligence

While genetics set the foundation for intelligence, your environment also plays a huge role. Even if you inherit genes linked to high intelligence, they won’t automatically make you a genius. Your surroundings, education, diet, and experiences all shape how your brain develops.

For example, studies have shown that:

• Children raised in stimulating environments with books, puzzles, and learning activities tend to develop stronger cognitive skills.
• Proper nutrition, especially in early childhood, supports brain development.
• Positive social interactions and supportive relationships help build problem-solving skills and emotional intelligence.

This means that even if someone doesn’t inherit “smart genes,” they can still develop intelligence through learning, practice, and exposure to new experiences.

Other Traits People Think They Get from One Parent—But Don’t

Intelligence isn’t the only trait people misunderstand when it comes to inheritance. Here are a few others:

1. Eye Color

Many people think eye color is determined by a simple dominant-recessive gene, with brown being dominant and blue being recessive. While that was once the accepted belief, scientists now know eye color is controlled by multiple genes—not just one.

This means that two brown-eyed parents can sometimes have a blue-eyed child, and two blue-eyed parents can, in rare cases, have a child with a different eye color.

2. Hair Type

People often believe they inherit their hair texture (curly, wavy, or straight) from one parent, usually their mother. In reality, hair type is influenced by several genes from both parents. That’s why siblings can have very different hair types, even though they share the same parents.

3. Height

While parents’ heights do influence how tall a child will be, height isn’t a simple case of inheriting it from one side of the family. Scientists have found that over 700 different genes affect height! Nutrition and overall health during childhood also play a big role.

4. Personality

Have you ever been told you “act just like your mom” or “have your dad’s sense of humor”? While genetics do play a role in personality traits, environment and life experiences shape them even more. Siblings with the same genes can have completely different personalities based on how they were raised and their personal experiences.

5. Dimples and Other Facial Features

Dimples, cleft chins, and even certain smile shapes are often thought to come from one parent or the other. But these traits are not strictly dominant or recessive like people once believed. A child can inherit them in unexpected ways, and even parents without dimples can have a dimpled baby due to a mix of hidden genetic factors.

The Fascinating World of Genetics

Genetics is far more complex than the simple rules many of us learned in school. While we do inherit traits from both parents, the way genes combine and express themselves can be unpredictable. Even identical twins, who share the same DNA, can have differences in appearance and personality due to environmental influences.

Scientists continue to study how genes influence everything from intelligence to health, and new discoveries are constantly being made. For example, researchers have found that genes can even turn on or off depending on a person’s lifestyle, diet, and stress levels. This means that while you might inherit certain traits, your choices and environment still shape who you become.

Final Thoughts

The next time someone tells you that you got your intelligence from your mom or your height from your dad, you’ll know the truth—it’s much more complicated than that! Genetics is a mix of contributions from both parents, combined with environmental factors that help shape each person into who they are.

So, what traits do you think you inherited from your parents? Have you noticed any surprising similarities or differences? Share your thoughts!