People with similar faces share genetic similarities in DNA even if they are not related

Have you ever seen someone you thought you knew, only to find out that it was just someone who looked a lot alike? Many of us have seen double calling from loved ones, family members, and even ourselves. Now a study revealed that these doubles (doppelgängers ) not only look alike, but also likely have very similar DNA, and even share personality traits.

Researchers from the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute in Barcelona revealed in an article published in the journal Cell Reports that the strong facial resemblance is associated with shared genetic variants.

The researchers wanted to answer the age-old question of whether we are “born” or “made”; that is, how much our genes “weigh” and how much upbringing is in how we end up being. That is why the doubles without family relationships were a huge clue to follow to shed light on this question.

“These results will have future implications in forensic medicine – reconstructing the face of the criminal from DNA – and in genetic diagnosis – the photo of the patient’s face already gives you clues about the genome he has -“, ​​said Dr. Manel Esteller, lead author of the study.

For decades, the existence of individuals who resemble each other without any family ties has been described as a proven fact, but anecdotal and without any scientific justification. However, the irruption of the Internet and social networks has caused thousands of personal photographs to be shared all over the world and has shown that the existence of “copies” between the faces of humans is more frequent than is believed.

In their new study, the team set out to characterize these random pairs who objectively share facial features, at the molecular level. The group of specialists recruited 32 look-alike couples who had been photographed by François Brunelle, a Canadian artist who has been photographing look-alikes since 1999.

The Spanish researchers used three different facial recognition algorithms to determine an objective measure of similarity of the couples. Participants also filled out lifestyle questionnaires and provided saliva samples for DNA analysis. “This unique set of samples allowed us to study how genomics, epigenomics, and microbiomics can contribute to human resemblance,” added Esteller.

The results revealed that the similar couples shared similar genetic compositions, or “genotypes.” However, they differed in DNA methylation (the regulation of gene expression) and in the landscapes of the microbiome (communities of bacteria, viruses, and fungi).

Physical traits, such as weight and height, and behavioral traits, such as smoking and education, were correlated among the lookalikes. This suggests that shared genetic variation is not only related to similar physical appearance but may also influence common behaviors and habits.

“Our study provides a rare insight into human similarity by showing that people with extremely similar faces share common genotypes, while being discordant at the level of the epigenome and the microbiome,” said the expert, who is also an ICREA research professor of Genetics at the University of Barcelona.

Although the researchers highlight several limitations of the study, such as the small sample size, the use of 2D black-and-white images, and the lack of diversity among the participants, they hope that the results may prove useful for future studies in the fields of biomedicine, evolution and even forensic medicine. Along these lines, Esteller concluded: “The final challenge would be to predict the structure of the human face based on the multi-omic landscape of the individual”.

The study comes shortly after researchers revealed that the chance of finding your doppelganger is one in a trillion. Teghan Lucas, a doctoral student at the University of Adelaide Medical School, conducted the study using a large database of facial and body measurements from almost 4,000 individuals, combined with mathematical equations, and found that using a combination of eight metric facial features, the probability of finding two faces with the same measurements in the general population was less than one in a trillion.

Have you ever seen someone you thought you knew, only to find out that it was just someone who looked a lot alike? Many . . .

Follow Us On Google News | Get Our Newsletter



Trending News on PVDN

  • Where do foreigners come from and where do they live in MexicoMexico City Protest on July 5 Challenges Gentrification and Airbnb’s Impact on Housing Residents of Roma and Condesa will gather at Parque México on July 5 to protest gentrification, rising rents, and Airbnb’s effect on local housing. This Saturday, July 5, Mexico City will witness its first organized citizen protest against gentrification—a peaceful but urgent gathering taking place at 3:30 p.m. at the Lindbergh Forum in Parque México,…
  • protests3Mexico City Protests: There is a fine line between anti-gentrification and xenophobia The line between anti-gentrification and racism is clear if you choose to see it: genuine activism targets policy and practice, not nationality or ethnicity. I have lived in Mexico for two decades, and I have never witnessed the level of anti-American sentiment that exists today. All of it is tied to the buzzword "gentrification," a…
  • puerto vallarta lettersPuerto Vallarta needs a new image to create meaningful reasons for travelers to visit Business leaders at Jalisco Tourism Secretariat forums stressed the need for renewing Puerto Vallarta image and diversifying attractions to appeal to national and international markets. Local business leaders and tourism specialists agreed this week that Puerto Vallarta needs a fresh look and a broader range of attractions to compete at home and abroad. In a…
  • puerto-vallarta-police-chase-bahia-de-banderasPuerto Vallarta police chase ends in deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas A Puerto Vallarta police chase along Highway 200 ended in a deadly collision in Bahía de Banderas, leaving two people dead. A high-speed chase that began in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and ended in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, left at least two people dead and raised new questions about police engagement and road safety in the…
  • puerto-vallarta-rainfall-hurricane-flossie-july-2025Puerto Vallarta braces for torrential rains as Hurricane Flossie gains strength Puerto Vallarta faces a high risk of flooding as Hurricane Flossie intensifies in the Pacific. Torrential rains and overwhelmed drainage systems pose major challenges for the city. Puerto Vallarta, a city wedged between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean, is no stranger to dramatic weather shifts—but this summer, the skies are testing the…
  • protestProtest graffiti and smashed windows mars anti-gentrification rally in Mexico City Residents and activists joined an anti-gentrification rally in Mexico Park, but the anti-gentrification rally Mexico Park turned destructive as masked youths defaced local shops and broke windows. A rally against gentrification held yesterday in Mexico City’s Parque México drew residents from Juárez, Roma, Condesa and Hipódromo alongside local activists. Organizers billed it as the city’s…
  • mexico city real estateGentrification in Mexico City is not the reason for the high cost of housing City housing shortage, not gentrification, drives prices skyward as planning lags behind demand and foreigner influence remains minimal. High real estate costs in Mexico City stem from a deep and persistent housing shortage—exacerbated by land constraints, tangled regulations and speculative investment—rather than by the presence of foreign residents. Despite headlines blaming “gentrification,” foreign-born residents make…
  • Body with signs of crocodile attack found in Ameca River, a leg was found last monthPurple Flag Warns Beachgoers after Crocodile at Los Muertos Beach Authorities raised a purple flag after a crocodile at Los Muertos Beach was spotted swimming near shore, advising visitors to avoid entering the water until safety checks ended. Local authorities recorded a crocodile swimming in the vicinity of Los Muertos Beach, one of Puerto Vallarta’s busiest tourist spots. Lifeguards spotted the reptile in shallow water…
  • José Luis Velázquez RodríguezSEAPAL Official Reported Missing in Puerto Vallarta Authorities in Puerto Vallarta have launched a search for José Luis Velázquez Rodríguez, SEAPAL's head of transparency, who has been missing since June 30. Family and officials are urging the public to report any information. Local authorities and civil protection units have launched a search operation for José Luis Velázquez Rodríguez, head of the Transparency…
  • puerto vallarta loses three blue flag beachesPuerto Vallarta retains four Blue Flag Beaches, down from eight Puerto Vallarta will enter the 2025–2026 season with four international Blue Flag distinctions in Puerto Vallarta, even after tourism-driven environmental damage cost it half of its previous honors. The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in Mexico confirmed that three resort flags will be revalidated at Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, The Westin Resort &…
Scroll to Top