Traits you can only inherit from your mother (and others from your father)

How much do we inherit from each of our parents?

We inherit two sets of genes: one from our mother and one from our father. The distribution is pretty balanced, but there is a very minor difference between males and females.

Percentages of inherited genes: females

Females inherit 50% of their DNA from their mothers and the other 50% from their fathers.

Percentages of inherited genes: males

Males on the other hand, inherit around 51% from their mothers and 49% from their fathers.

Father: Height

Both parent's height genes are passed on to a child, but the father's IGF genes have a greater influence in the stimulation of growth, and therefore height.

Father: Sex

Fathers essentially determine the child's sex, which is defined by the X and Y chromosomes, namely XX for females and XY for males.

Father: Y-linked disorders

Males get their Y sex chromosome from their fathers, so this means Y-linked disorders are inherited from fathers. These include webbed toes and hypertrichosis of the ears (hairy ears).

Father: Fat storage

White fat storage on the other hand, is mostly inherited from our fathers. This type of fat is used for energy, but can accumulate and cause health problems such as heart disease and obesity.

Mother: Mitochondrial diseases

These chronic hereditary disorders are passed on to children when mitochondria DNA is defective or has mutations. While many of these disorders appear at birth, they can develop later in life, too, and affect virtually any part of the human body.

Mother: Eye conditions

Both eye structure and eyesight are inherited from mothers. Pathological myopia is one of the common eye conditions that can be passed on through genes.

Mother: Physical features

There are some physical features you can thank (or blame) your mother for. These include your hair color and texture, as well as your hairline.

Mother: Menstruation and menopause

Women can inherit the time when they start menstruating, and when they enter menopause, from their mothers.

Mother: Sleeping patterns

Research has found that mothers pass their sleeping patterns to their children. The children of mothers who suffer from insomnia tend to take longer to fall asleep.

Mother: Aging

A study did however find that environmental factors such as sun exposure, smoking, etc, can cause mitochondrial DNA damage, which is then inherited by the child and can influence traits such as wrinkles and gray hair.

Mother: ADHD

The children of mothers who have low levels of serotonin are more likely to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) later in life. This is because genes that regulate serotonin production are passed on, and these seem to have an impact on the capacity to focus.

Mother: Temperament

Mothers can also pass on the genes that impact a child's temperament. A German study concluded: "Individuals who carry a specific type of allele, or alternative form of a gene, are far more likely to be angry than those without this allele."