ronit
Family & Pets

Surprising traits you inherit from your parents (and you pass down to your offspring)

You might have inherited your mother’s baby blues or your dad’s stubborn nature but here are a few other surprising genetic traits you can credit to your parents too.

You need a coffee fix to properly wake up

Do your parents love a good cuppa? Have you found your children to also enjoy a shot of caffeine? A study by Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital researchers found a genetic link between responses to caffeine, which may explain whether a person experiences a positive or negative reaction to caffeine.

Don’t miss: The funniest things grandkids say

A sprinkling of coriander can ruin a meal for you

While for many a generous sprinkling of the coriander herb is essential flavouring for dishes, to others it’s the bomb that ruins food. The aversion has been traced back to a gene, OR6A2, which makes people sensitive to the distinct flavour of coriander.

You absolutely detest visiting to the dentist

We’ve yet to meet anyone who actually enjoys a trip to the dentist but those who actually fear it (and avoid going at all cost) can blame their parents. According to a study in the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry there’s a link between fear levels amongst fathers, mothers, and children.

After eating asparagus, a trip to the bathroom can be smelly

You’ve heard the saying “eat asparagus and your pee smells funny” but that’s only true for a quarter of the population. Only those with a particular receptor gene can smell the distinct odour while the rest remain in blissful ignorance.

You really hate veggies like kale, broccoli and brussel sprouts

If you’ve been called a picky eater before, you can now blame it in part to a variation of a taste receptor gene that makes you sensitive to bitter tasting food, many of which are found in the cabbage family (broccoli, cauliflower, horseradish, wasabi, mustard, brussels sprouts).

Related links:

Fun games to play with the family

Why you should create an oral family history

From parent to grandparent. Have you mastered the transition?

Tags:
family, traits