Have you ever wondered if there’s someone out there who looks just like you? This person is called your doppelganger. I found mine, and his name is Scott Hoying! You might know him from the music group Pentatonix or the duo Superfruit. People have been telling me for years that we look alike, so I decided to meet him and see if we are related by doing a DNA test.
First, I learned that Scott from Pentatonix and the guy from ASAP Science are not the same person, even though they look similar. To finally meet Scott, I traveled to Los Angeles. We decided to take a DNA test from Circle DNA, which is known for being very detailed, to see if we share any family connections.
The idea of doppelgangers is connected to how our brains work. Our brains have special neurons for recognizing faces, called facial recognition neurons. These neurons help us understand people’s emotions and identify them quickly. However, they aren’t perfect, which is why sometimes we see faces in clouds or other objects, a phenomenon known as pareidolia.
Scott and I both make videos and are part of the LGBTQ+ community, which might confuse our facial recognition neurons and make us seem more alike than we are.
Meeting Scott felt like meeting a long-lost brother. We looked so similar in person, which was both exciting and strange. Before checking our DNA results, we talked about how our brains match faces to people based on past experiences. For instance, if you see someone who looks like Scott, your brain might think it’s him even if it’s not.
To find out if we are related, we used Circle DNA’s test. It’s easy to do: you activate your kit, provide a saliva sample, and send it back to the lab. In about 18 business days, you get results about your genetics, ancestry, diet, and fitness.
As we looked at our DNA results, we compared our diets, physical traits, and genetic traits. We also checked our ancestry to see if we had any distant relatives in common. It was fascinating to learn about our genetic similarities and differences.
In the end, Scott and I found out that while we are quite similar in looks and personality, we aren’t identical. Meeting someone who looks so much like me was a unique and insightful experience. It makes you wonder how many people out there might look like you, even if they aren’t your exact doppelganger.
If you’re curious about your own DNA, consider trying Circle DNA. And don’t forget to subscribe for more exciting science videos!
Imagine you found your own doppelganger. Write a short story about how you met them and what you discovered about your similarities and differences. Be creative and think about how you would feel meeting someone who looks just like you.
Pair up with a classmate and take turns observing each other’s faces for one minute. Then, try to draw your partner from memory. Discuss how accurate your drawings are and what features were easiest or hardest to remember. This will help you understand how facial recognition works.
Research how DNA tests work and create a simple simulation using colored beads to represent different genetic markers. Exchange “DNA samples” with classmates and analyze them to determine if you share any genetic traits. This activity will give you a hands-on understanding of genetic testing.
Explore the concept of pareidolia by creating art from random shapes or patterns. Use materials like clouds, leaves, or abstract paint splatters to form images that resemble faces or objects. Share your artwork with the class and discuss how our brains interpret these patterns.
Create a simple family tree using information from your relatives. Include as many generations as you can and note any interesting traits or stories. Share your family tree with the class and discuss how ancestry can reveal connections and similarities among people.
Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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Is there someone out there who looks exactly like you, known as your doppelganger? You may have one; I know that I do! Thanks to the internet, I found out that my doppelganger is Scott Hoying. You might recognize him from Pentatonix or Superfruit, and people have been saying we look alike for years. I discovered that the guy from ASAP Science is not Scott from Pentatonix; these are two different people. So, we went to LA to finally meet Scott, my doppelganger, and do a DNA test sponsored by Circle DNA, the world’s most comprehensive DNA test, to find out if we’re related.
We wanted to explore how seeing doppelgangers links to cognition and if, according to science, everyone has a look-alike on this earth. When I take off my glasses, I can see how different I look! The phenomenon of doppelgangers relates to biology. There are neurons in our brains specifically for recognizing faces, known as facial recognition neurons. These neurons have evolved because seeing faces is important for understanding moods, emotions, and even danger.
Our brains are pre-loaded with these neurons, which fire quickly but are not perfect. This is why you might experience pareidolia, where you see faces in clouds or other objects. Since Scott and I often find ourselves in similar contexts—making TikTok videos, doing YouTube, and being part of the LGBTQ+ community—our facial recognition neurons might get us mixed up.
Meeting each other felt surreal; it was like meeting a brother I never had. We both noticed how similar we looked in person, which added to the weirdness of the moment. Now, we’re going to go through our DNA results to see if we are actually related. I’m nervous!
Before we dive into the results, it’s important to understand that seeing doppelgangers relates to consciousness. Our brains constantly match faces to identities based on prior experiences. For example, when you see someone who looks like Scott, your brain might mistakenly think it’s him.
To find out if Scott and I are related, we used Circle DNA, which offers a comprehensive DNA test with high accuracy. You can do this yourself by activating your kit, taking a saliva sample, and returning it to the lab for results in about 18 business days. The test provides extensive information about your genetics, ancestry, diet, and fitness.
As we go through our results, we’ll compare our diet, physical traits, and genetic traits. We’ll also check our ancestry to see if we share any distant relatives. It’s fascinating to learn about our genetic similarities and differences.
In the end, Scott and I discovered that we are indeed quite similar, both in appearance and personality. While we may not be identical, the experience of meeting someone who looks so much like me was unique and insightful. It’s interesting to think about how many people out there might resemble you, even if they aren’t your exact doppelganger.
If you want to explore your own DNA, make sure to check out Circle DNA. And don’t forget to subscribe for more science videos coming your way!
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This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains the essence of the original transcript while ensuring it is suitable for all audiences.
Doppelganger – A biologically unrelated look-alike or double of a living person. – In biology class, we learned about how identical twins can sometimes be mistaken for doppelgangers because they look so similar.
DNA – The molecule that carries the genetic instructions for life, determining the characteristics of living organisms. – Scientists study DNA to understand how certain traits are passed from parents to offspring.
Neurons – Specialized cells in the nervous system that transmit information through electrical and chemical signals. – Our teacher explained how neurons in the brain help us think, learn, and remember things.
Recognition – The ability to identify something or someone previously seen, heard, or known. – In psychology, recognition is important for understanding how we remember faces and names.
Emotions – Complex psychological states that involve a subjective experience, a physiological response, and a behavioral or expressive response. – We discussed how emotions like happiness and sadness can affect our behavior and decision-making.
Pareidolia – The tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern. – Our teacher showed us how pareidolia can make us see faces in clouds or on the surface of Mars.
Genetics – The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics. – Genetics helps scientists understand how certain diseases are passed down through families.
Ancestry – One’s family or ethnic descent, often traced through generations. – By studying ancestry, we can learn about the migration patterns of ancient human populations.
Traits – Characteristics or features of an organism that are inherited from its parents. – Eye color and hair type are examples of traits that can be passed from one generation to the next.
Community – A group of interacting organisms sharing an environment, often relying on each other for survival. – In ecology, we learned how a forest community includes trees, animals, and microorganisms all living together.
