Question about recessive genes

[Adri]

I just wanted to know what your opinions are on this. I am a light skinned latina with medium brown eyes. My whole family; mom, brother, grandpa, grandma, aunts, and uncles are all light complected except for two who have more of a tan complexion. They all have/had either medium brown, hazel or blue eyes. My father was also light complected with hazel/green eyes. According to my mom his family were also light (I never met them). Now my husband is white, mostly German but according to his father, his grandmother (husband's) had native American in her (could be half) I realize many Americans claim Native American ancestry but my father in law says that he is positive that it is true in his family. Okay we have a daughter with very fair skin, greyish-blue eyes, brown hair with copper highlights. To my surprise our second child, a boy, has a dark complexion, very dark brown eyes (they look black unless you look real close then you will see they are really just a very dark brown) and black hair (not surprised on the hair color because I have black hair). So my son's skin color and eye color is like no one in my or husband's family. He is even darker than my mom's brother and sister who I said in the beginning had tan complexions (they both have medium brown eyes though). I really do not know were my son got his coloring from. I know recessive genes but my question is: Did our son inherit his coloring from both, me and my husband's, recessive genes? Sorry if this is a dumb question but I truly don't know. Could my son have his coloring from only my recessive genes (I assume it comes from me since I am hispanic) or is it like two brown haired parents have to each have the recessive genes for red hair to have a red headed child type of thing? Thanks for your opinions.

Edited July 20, 2010 by Adri

[jackson33]

Did our son inherit his coloring from both, me and my husband's, recessive genes? [/Quote]

 

More than likely your second son's darker color and black hair, came from your side the family, at least percentage wise. Most Latino's have, as you described yourself and Family have a good deal of Spanish Ancestry, likely a few whites and Southern Native American Ancestry (Aztec/Inca), which have much darker skin coloring and black hair.

 

My life story is this; I (White, very fair skinned, freckles and all Irish/English) married an American Indian, also with some (1/8th or less) German Ancestry from Washington State, where this was very common (German/NA, in the late19th Century) and our child at birth, was darker in color, green eyes, black hair and grew up pretty much like her mother, but in the far South US and happens to be an outdoor gal. I also married a dark skinned Latina, very much from a family as yours (but by far the darkest) and both our kids, one, boy one girl, were extremely light skinned, blond hair, brown eyes, the girls baby picture and my own indistinguishable. Both however grew up to look identical their beautiful mother, dark skin, hair and all. In fact of her nine kids (two only mine) she looks more like her mother than any of her other six daughters, at age 20-25.

 

The point; While recessive genes are important to many things, generally biological, health, in my opinion, there doesn't seem to be any genetic anomaly in your case. Once both your children reach 18-20 they will have pretty much changed from how they now appear to you, basic features, skin coloring, hair could all be as yours, his or some combination.

Edited July 20, 2010 by jackson33

[Adri]

Thanks for your reply jackson33. I figured it came from my side of the family but I was interested to see what other people thought. Truthfully I wasn't completely shocked he was born darker than me and my husband. I knew it could happen because of my ethnicity but I was still a little surprised. He does look like me and my daughter in the face though. Thanks again.