“Doppelgänger” is a phenomenon where two completely unrelated individuals have remarkably similar faces.
An intriguing phenomenon that scientists are still dedicating a lot of time and effort to understanding, and which has even attracted photographers and curious onlookers, is “doppelgänger.” Many people believe that somewhere in the world, amidst nearly 8 billion people, there exists someone who looks exactly like you, despite having no familial ties.
Some superstitious individuals even consider doppelgängers to be an ill omen or the result of “evil spirits in disguise.” According to ancient Egyptian mythology, it is believed that a doppelgänger represents a twin soul with identical consciousness and emotions. Of course, these beliefs lack scientific support and are merely based on spiritual and mystical interpretations of phenomena that humans have yet to comprehend.
The phenomenon of “doppelgänger” – Two unrelated individuals who resemble each other.
However, the ancient Egyptian perspective appears to have some validity, according to a recent study.
This study focused on 32 pairs of doppelgängers from around the world who had no familial relations, revealing that two individuals with strong facial similarities are likely to share a significant number of similar genes, and even exhibit similar behaviors. However, the activated genes or microbial systems in their bodies still differ.
These “non-biological twins” had never met each other and were identified through the dedicated project of Canadian photographer and artist François Brunelle, who has spent 25 years seeking out and photographing doppelgängers.
One of the study’s lead authors, Manel Esteller, Director of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute in Spain, stated that the gene types of individuals with similar faces are highly comparable.
Are Personalities Heavily Influenced by Genes?
In the study, these 32 pairs of doppelgängers completed lifestyle and biometric questionnaires in their native languages. They filtered out 16 pairs that were deemed the most similar by three facial recognition algorithms for further research.
The researchers discovered that these individuals were quite alike in various aspects, such as smoking habits, educational levels, and even weight—a sign that behaviors may be strongly influenced by genes.
The phenomenon of look-alikes is not too rare, as many celebrities have confused fans due to their striking resemblance to others.
The researchers emphasize that these findings are significant not only from a genetic standpoint but also in addressing questions related to human behavior: Do we behave in ways influenced by genes, or is it shaped by lifestyle and environmental factors?
Perhaps the most interesting aspect is that these genetic similarities among doppelgängers who are not related occur randomly, implying that the variety of human gene combinations is finite, especially on a planet rapidly approaching a population of 8 billion.
The researchers state that their findings could be applied in fields such as evolution, biomedicine, and forensics.
“These results will have implications in the future for forensics—reconstructing the faces of criminals from DNA—and in genetic diagnostics, where a patient’s facial image may provide clues about their gene makeup,” one researcher commented. “Through collaborative efforts, the ultimate challenge will be to predict human facial structure based on genes and other factors.”
A Photographer’s Two-Decade Quest for Doppelgängers
Since 1999, François Brunelle has traveled to 25 cities to find 250 pairs of doppelgängers for an unparalleled photography project in his career.
The photo series “I’m not a look-alike” is Brunelle’s effort to uncover answers about this fascinating phenomenon. He positions two doppelgängers side by side, capturing black-and-white images with similar expressions, clothing, and hairstyles.
Despite being complete strangers, the resemblance has remarkably connected these two individuals.
Notably, among the “strange twins” he discovered, there were individuals of different genders who surprisingly shared similar facial features. The photos were taken during their first meeting, yet their expressions and faces make one think they are twins or siblings who have lived together for decades.
Despite being complete strangers, the resemblance has remarkably connected these two individuals. Even more interesting, many pairs of them exhibited similar personalities and behaviors, further exciting scientists studying biometrics.
On October 27, thousands gathered at Washington Square Park in New York to participate in a competition to find the person who resembles actor Timothée Chalamet the most. The research findings indicate that those resembling Chalamet are considered doppelgängers, sharing similar genetic traits despite being biologically unrelated. Scientists have discovered that it is highly likely that each person has a doppelgänger somewhere, according to National Geographic.
Manel Esteller, a molecular geneticist at the Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute in Spain, examined the genetic similarities among individuals in the photo series “I’m not a look-alike!” by French-Canadian photographer François Brunelle. Brunelle assisted Esteller in connecting with the pairs of “strange twins” in his photographs worldwide. They submitted genetic samples in the form of throat swabs. Esteller and his team spent four years collecting and analyzing genetic data correlations before publishing their findings in 2022.
The research team first identified which pairs were the most alike. “It was a very objective process. These individuals were assessed by three facial recognition algorithms used by police and airports. Pairs that the algorithms could not distinguish between were selected for further study,” Esteller explained.
The genes of the doppelgängers were directly compared with a methylation map (chemical changes to DNA that affect its expression) and the microbiome. Esteller concluded that while their methylation maps and microbiomes were entirely different, unrelated look-alikes shared many distinctive features in their genetic makeup. According to him, gene sequences control characteristics such as bone structure, skin color, and moisture retention—all of which affect appearance. In human genetics, these sequences include polymorphic positions where DNA base pairs have different variants, and doppelgängers share the same variant.
Doppelgängers.
Genetic comparisons confirm that those who are exceedingly similar in the study are indeed unrelated, showcasing similarities in appearance and genetic structure. Through this research, Esteller hopes to advance diagnostic science by employing facial recognition to detect rare genetic disorders in children early.
Another scientist using Brunelle’s project as a basis for scientific research is Nancy Segal, a psychology professor at California State University, Fullerton, and the director and founder of the Twin Research Center. Her research focuses on twin pairs, but upon learning about Brunelle’s project, she recognized an opportunity to address a controversial scientific topic.
“Some scientists argue that the personality similarities of twins are not due to shared genetic traits but rather because people treat them similarly based on their appearance. If their assertion is correct, then doppelgängers should be similar in personality since they resemble twins raised separately,” Segal commented.
Segal approached the look-alikes in Brunelle’s photo series as well as a few pairs she encountered in real life, subsequently giving them a personality test to measure openness, self-control, extraversion, agreeableness, and stability. Their scores were compared with other twin pairs. Segal found that doppelgängers are not likely to share the same personality traits. They also did not resemble each other when Segal measured their self-esteem. “These unrelated look-alikes have truly different personalities,” she concluded.
