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| © shoutingforha |
I have always been fascinated in genetics and the way various traits are passed from generation to generation. Hair color, left or right handedness, attached or dangling ear lobes, the ability to roll one's tongue or wink...
Over the years, I have managed to accumulate some wonderful old family photographs. The picture above is of my great, great, great grandfather on my mother's paternal side. It happens to be one of my favorites. I will freely admit that I have a soft spot when it comes to pictures of little old men, but the real reason I love this photograph is because we have the same eyes.
It's a rare thing to have a genetic trait that is so distinct it can easily be recognized in six or more generations. When I look at this picture, I immediately see my mom in the deep set, icy blue eyes (no offense, Mom). I have no doubt that, as I age, my eyes will more closely resemble the old fellow as well.
My grandpa died when I was only six, but I can still remember the deep blue of his eyes. His four daughters, my mom included, inherited those same eyes, as did my twin sister and I. Of my sister's three children, only one, my oldest niece, has blue eyes.
From a genetic standpoint, it is amazing that those baby blues have been passed down from generation to generation. As you probably know, the gene for blue eyes is recessive and is trumped by all other colors. All I have to do to remind myself of this fact is to gaze into my boy's green eyes, a pesky gene he inherited from the hubby.
For the record, the little guy's eyes didn't morph from blue to green until he was eighteen months old. I was robbed, I tell you!
I would love to hear your stories too, dear readers. What special traits have been passed down through your families?
3 comment(s). Leave yours!:
The first thing I thought when I saw Teddy was that he "looked like a (insert my maiden name)." It's the eyes.
I love old family photos, too. Do you display them in your home?
Gretchen,
Yes, I do display them in my home. We have one particular wall that is filled with photographs, some old (like a picture of my grandmother when she was 16), and some new. I tried to mount all of the pictures in similar frames just to make it look a little more thought out rather than just thrown together.
The photograph I used in this post is mounted on that stiff, tan board, like so many pictures of that era. It remains unframed and is displayed, tucked among the other treasures, on a large bookshelf in our living room.
No offense taken. Think my eyes have become more deep set with age. I see my eyes in this photo as well. Amazing isn't it.
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