Am I genetically closer to my sister or my daughter? The Surprising Answer

Honestly, this question has been bugging me for a while. I mean, on the surface, it seems simple, right? You think, "Well, duh, my sister and I are from the same parents. So, I must be genetically closer to her than to my daughter." But when you dig a little deeper into genetics, things get a whole lot messier. And I have to admit, I was totally wrong about this at first. So, let’s break it down together.

The Basics of Genetics: Sister vs. Daughter

To start, we’ve got to get on the same page about genetics. You probably already know that we inherit half of our DNA from our mom and half from our dad. Cool, right? But here’s where it gets interesting: the way you share your DNA with your family members isn’t always as straightforward as you might think.

Now, let’s look at my sister first. Technically, we’re both children of the same parents, so that means we share about 50% of our DNA. Sounds pretty simple, right? But here’s the kicker: every time we get half of our DNA from our mom and dad, it’s not exactly the same half. That means, although my sister and I share 50% of our DNA on average, that 50% isn’t always the exact same genes.

Now, for my daughter… well, I share 50% of my DNA with her, too. But here's the twist: while the percentage is the same, there's a HUGE difference in how that DNA is passed down. Because my daughter is my direct child, she’s got a combination of my genes and my partner’s genes, whereas my sister has the same parents as me. So, in some ways, it’s almost like a "genetic lottery" between us and our children.

Digging Deeper: Sister or Daughter, Who's Closer?

Okay, but you might still be wondering, who am I genetically closer to? Is it my sister or my daughter? Here’s where things get a little wild. The scientific answer? It depends on how you look at it.

Here’s the thing: while you share 50% of your DNA with both your sister and your daughter, the actual makeup of that DNA varies. So technically, you might have more identical genes with your sister in some areas, and more in common with your daughter in others.

Let me throw an example at you: if you and your sister both inherit the same eye color gene from your mom and dad, that’s one thing. But your daughter, even though she shares 50% of your DNA, might get a completely different combination of your genes, leading to a slightly different genetic "profile" overall. This is why siblings can look so different from one another, while a child may share more obvious traits with one parent.

Real Talk: Why It’s Hard to Compare

So here’s where I started questioning things. I had this conversation with a colleague recently (let’s call him Dave) and he straight-up said, "It’s all about probabilities, man. You and your sister might share the same parents, but your daughter gets a whole mix of your genetic material, so you’re just as ‘close’ in a sense."

At first, I thought he was being a little too "science-y" for my taste. But honestly? He’s kind of right. The genetic connection between siblings and parents/children is complicated. It’s not just about the number 50% — it’s about how that 50% gets combined in ways that make each relationship totally unique.

Personal Experience: How I Got it Wrong

This whole thing hit me when I was looking at a photo of my daughter. I was thinking, “Wow, she looks so much like me!” But then I started wondering: is it because she shares my DNA, or is it just because, well, she’s my kid? Then I thought about my sister, and how we’ve always been told we "look alike" but never really felt the same, you know?

Honestly, it wasn’t until I sat down and did some reading (and let’s be real, a lot of head-scratching) that I realized how complex this genetic stuff really is. In some ways, I may share a closer genetic bond with my sister when it comes to things like inherited diseases or family traits that run in our bloodline. But my daughter? She carries a unique blend of my partner’s and my genes, meaning we are still really deeply connected, just in a different way.

The Big Takeaway: Both Are Important, In Different Ways

So, here’s the thing: whether you’re genetically closer to your sister or your daughter, it’s not just about the DNA. Yes, we share half of our DNA with both our siblings and our children, but that doesn’t mean we experience those connections the same way.

In conclusion, I’ve realized that while my sister and I might share a bit more "similar" genetic makeup (in some areas), my daughter is, of course, the product of my genetic code being passed down to a new generation. So in a sense, I’m connected to both in ways that are meaningful — but not always easy to compare.

What do you think? Have you ever wondered about this? Would love to know your thoughts or if you’ve had similar questions!

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.