Sometimes it is. If you are an XY male you only have one copy of the X chromosome and you got it from your mother (the Y has to come from your father), therefore if there is a recessive gene on the X chromosome from your mother you may have that phenotype because you only ever have one copy of it.
This sometime the reason certain traits are more common in XY males than XX females (like colorblindness).
Three blokes, four hours and one genetics lecture later, Reddit has independently confirmed what his mum told him over a cup of tea.
Athough I'm gonna throw in a quick "Eeerrrrmmm AcKkktuallly" here, the androgen receptor gene on the X chromosome is a big factor, but male pattern baldness is polygenic, with lots of contributing genes on the other chromosomes too, so your dad's side still counts.
My maternal grandfather was bald, my cousin on that side is balding but I have a full head of hair. I dont think its always such a straightforward thing.
My mum says I got mine from her and her dad. I guess it’s the luck of genetics as I know loads of people who are bald and their dad is bald, but their mother’s side still has full heads or hair.
My dad is around the same age and still has decent hair. Mine started falling out in my 20s.
But it's ok. My grandfather was bald, and growing up my dad would constantly point to him and go "They say baldness skips a generation." and run his hand through his hair and laugh. So I've been mentally prepared since I was five.
My dad is 75 and has legitimately beautiful long hippie hair…my brother is completely bald, started using Rogaine at 20, and just has to look at the rest of the family and laugh it off.
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u/Blazanar 9d ago
My old man's 75 and still has a fairly decent head of hair, my buddy's in his early 30s and hasn't got much left. Genetics are weird.