IVF babies, like any other children, inherit genetic traits from both parents, making it equally likely they'll resemble their mother or father. While the process of IVF involves fertilization outside the body, the genetic makeup of the baby is determined by the sperm and egg used, just as in natural conception.
Factors influencing resemblance:
- Dominant genes: Some genes are dominant, meaning they're more likely to be expressed in the child's physical traits. This can explain why a child might have their father's eye color even if their mother has a different eye color.
- Recessive genes: Recessive genes only appear in the phenotype (physical traits) if two copies of the gene are inherited, one from each parent. For example, if both parents carry a recessive gene for blue eyes, their child may have blue eyes even though neither parent has them.
- Randomness: Genetics is a complex process with a lot of variability. While parents pass down their genes, it's ultimately a matter of chance which genes are expressed in the child.
In conclusion, while IVF babies are conceived through a different method, the basic principles of inheritance remain the same. The likelihood of an IVF baby resembling one parent over the other is determined by the same factors that influence any child's appearance.
