Blame dad for your height, thank mum for your brains

Blame dad for your height, thank mum for your brains (Photo: iStock)

As stupid as your mother - sounds cliche, but many adults told children this line, especially in the past when the voice of women was muted. The general rule is that we inherit half of our genes from each parent. The above statement appears chauvinistic but has been scientifically proven. Fathers bring X and Y chromosomes, while mothers bring two X chromosomes.

Some traits attach to either the Y or X chromosome. What is found in the X chromosome can be acquired from both parents, but what is on the Y chromosome can only be inherited from fathers. It has been proven that intelligence is inherited from mothers. There are other traits that we only get from our fathers.