What causes dimples (in one's cheeks)?

Flynn_17

Eating a kebab sideways. Mar 19 06, 7:50 AM

JoshCaleb12

Genetics... Mar 19 06, 10:35 AM

kaylofgorons

Something about ligaments and fat tissue under your skin Mar 19 06, 12:23 PM

McGruff

Dimples are hereditary. To examine "dimples": If the correct heredity gene is found in a human, the muscles which cause dimples to appear are present. Before reproduction, sex cells are created through the process of meiosis. These cells will contain either of two genes which produce dimples, or one that produces the muscles controlling dimples and one that doesn't. In reproduction, each parent will provide one of these genes to the child. In humans the dimples gene is dominant; therefore, if a dimples gene is present the child will have dimples. There are three possible outcomes: 1. Two "dimple genes" are present and the offspring develops the muscles. Subsequently, all the offspring's children will have the ability. 2. One of each gene is present. Because the dimples gene is dominant, the muscles will develop. They will have 1/2 dimples and 1/2 non-dimples gametes. 3. Two non-dimple genes are present. The muscle therefore can not be developed. Only recessive genes will be passed to offspring. This simple principle would seem to rule out the possibility that dimples could be passed along by two parents without them. However, an additional principle is needed to understand the complete process. Mendel's Principle of Independent Assortment: "According to the principle of independent assortment, different pairs of alleles are passed to offspring independently of each other. The result is that new combinations of genes present in neither parent are possible. "The quote above is taken from a nicely illustrated essay by Dennis O'Neil, of Palomar.edu, which explains both Mendel's First and Second Principles in greater detail: http://anthro.palomar.edu/mendel/mendel_1.htm http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=17825 Mar 19 06, 1:56 PM

McGruff

Okay, that's how you get them, and below is an explanation of what they actually are: Re: Curious about Dimples! Date: Sat Sep 5 10:48:22 1998 Posted By: Jim Bridger, Faculty, Biology, Prince Georges Community College Area of science: Anatomy ID: 904517443.An Message: Erin - Your dimples are valued in our society as we think that they are cute! Actually, and you don't have to tell anyone this, they are a "birth defect." By that I mean that muscles in your face, and perhaps other areas of one's body, are shorter than in most people. Therefore they pull on the skin and form the indentation that you and so many other people have. Sometimes the muscles lengthen during life and the dimples disappear or lessen as we age. Lots of babies have them but many don't continue to have them as they grow up. So, even though they are not "normal", they are not a serious "defect" and as I said, many people would like to have them. So, display them often as you smile! http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/oct98/905054397.An.r.html Mar 19 06, 2:03 PM

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