Expert: Sridhar Acharya Malkaram - 1/15/2009

Question
Not sure you can answer this, but is it true when dark & light genes mix- the father's gene is more dominate in Determining the child's features?
Meaning - if father is black & mother is white, the child would most likely be more on the dark side, but if father is white & mother is black, child would most likely be on the light side? i know they ususally say the darker genes are more dominate, but i also heard its a factor if its the mother or father who has the darker genes. Dont know if theres any science Behind it?
thank you for your time

Answer
There is no dependence of dominance on father or mother.
Dominance is dependent on the gene itself regardless of whether it is paternal or maternal.
Considering 'darker' genes as more dominant, the child would likely to be darker if either the father or mother or both were carrying the 'darker' genes. The child would be lighter only if both father and mother carry the 'lighter' genes.