Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: David Skytte on 29/04/2011 16:01:02

Title: Are first-borns more like their fathers?
Post by: David Skytte on 29/04/2011 16:01:02

David Skytte  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Dear Naked Scientist,

A friend of mine recently became a parent; father and son definitely share similar facial traits. My friend commented that first-borns tend to look more like the father than the mother, so as to strengthen the paternal bond and promote family unity. Is this true, and if so, what is the mechanism?

Best wishes, 

David Skytte

What do you think?

Title: Are first-borns more like their fathers?
Post by: RD on 29/04/2011 19:06:34

"looks like father" is said by mothers of newborns*, for the reasons you described ...

Quote

... we should then expect the evolution of maternal strategies directed to decrease paternity uncertainty, in the form of instinctive and unsolicited comments on babies' resemblance to their putative fathers.

  http://www.springerlink.com/content/a4kct9krwdwe0w53/


(* not just first-borns)