6 genetic traits you get from your dad

Certain traits are more influenced by your dad’s genetics

While we inherit genes from both parents, some characteristics are more commonly passed down from fathers. From physical features to health risks, your dad’s DNA plays a key role in shaping who you are. Here are six traits that are more likely to come from your father!

1. Your height

Height is influenced by multiple genes, but research suggests that a father’s genetics play a slightly stronger role in determining how tall a child will be. If your dad is tall, you have a higher chance of inheriting those extra inches.

Source: A 2017 study in Nature identified over 700 genetic variants influencing height, with some paternal genes having a stronger effect.

2. The sound of your voice

The size of your larynx and vocal cords, which affect pitch and tone, are traits that can be inherited from your father. This is why many sons develop a voice similar to their dad’s, especially as they go through puberty.

Source: Research from the Journal of Voice (2011) confirmed that vocal characteristics, including pitch, have a strong genetic component.

3. Your risk of heart disease

A father’s cardiovascular health can be a significant predictor of a child’s risk for heart disease. While both parents contribute to genetic risk factors, studies suggest that men with fathers who had heart disease are at a higher risk themselves.

Source: A 2022 study in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that heart disease risk is strongly linked to paternal inheritance.

4. Your sleeping habits

Your natural sleep-wake cycle, or circadian rhythm, is influenced by genetics. If your father is a night owl or an early riser, you may have inherited similar sleep tendencies.

Source: A 2017 study in Nature found that genes affecting sleep cycles are often inherited from the father’s side.

5. Your finger length

The ratio between your index and ring fingers is linked to testosterone exposure in the womb, which is largely influenced by your father’s genes. This ratio has been studied in relation to traits like confidence, aggression, and even athletic ability.

Source: A study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) found that prenatal testosterone levels affect finger length ratios.

6. Male pattern baldness

Baldness is often thought to be inherited from the mother’s side, but the truth is more complex. While the primary gene for male pattern baldness is found on the X chromosome (which men inherit from their mother), other contributing genes come from the father as well. If your dad lost his hair early, you might too.

Source: A 2017 PLOS Genetics study confirmed that multiple genes influence baldness, including some inherited from the father’s side.

The role of genetics in who we are

While we inherit traits from both parents, these six characteristics are more likely to come from your father. However, genetics is only part of the picture—environment, lifestyle, and personal choices also play a major role in shaping who we are.

So, if you’ve ever wondered why you resemble your dad in certain ways, science may have the answer!