Medical experts have explained that it is perfectly normal for some children to bear little or no physical resemblance to their biological parents, stressing that inherited traits can come from grandparents, great-grandparents, and other ancestors.
According to child health and genetics specialists, characteristics such as height, skin tone, facial features, body shape, intelligence, and behaviour are influenced by a complex combination of genes passed down through several generations. As a result, a child may strongly resemble a distant relative instead of either parent.
The experts noted that genes can remain hidden for generations before reappearing in descendants. They also explained that environmental factors may affect how certain inherited traits are expressed.
Speaking on the issue, Professor Christopher Yilgwan, a paediatrician at the University of Jos, said no single gene determines a child's appearance. He explained that children inherit different combinations of genes from many relatives, making it possible for them to look unlike their parents.
He urged families not to judge paternity based on physical appearance alone, emphasizing that children should be raised in a loving and supportive environment rather than being subjected to suspicion because of their looks.
Also speaking, Professor Ish'aq Abdul, a prenatal genetics and fetal medicine specialist at the University of Ilorin, said it is common for children to resemble ancestors from several generations back. He stressed that physical appearance alone cannot determine biological parentage.
According to him, the only reliable method of confirming paternity is DNA testing. While blood group testing may rule out paternity in certain situations, it cannot conclusively prove that a man is the biological father of a child.
The specialists also advised intending couples to know their genotype before marriage to help reduce the risk of sickle cell disease in children. They further warned about the importance of Rhesus factor compatibility during pregnancy and encouraged anyone with concerns about inherited conditions to seek professional genetic counselling rather than relying on assumptions based on appearance.
The experts concluded that physical differences between children and their parents are a natural result of genetic inheritance and should not automatically raise doubts about parentage.
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