Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: neilep on 05/09/2007 16:49:37

Title: Identical twins...Not hereditary ?
Post by: neilep on 05/09/2007 16:49:37

Hi Peeps,

According to this portion of an article on twins in Wiki. Having twins is NOT a hereditary trait !!

Here's the portion!

Identical twins occur when a single egg is fertilized to form one zygote (monozygotic) which then divides into two separate embryos. Although their traits and physical appearances are not exactly the same due to environmental conditions both in and outside the womb, they do have identical DNA. This is not considered to be a hereditary trait, but rather an anomaly that occurs in birthing at a rate of about 3 in every 1000 deliveries worldwide,[2] regardless of ethnic background.

I know at least three families where a twin in the family has also had twins !!...what's that all about then ?

Title: Identical twins...Not hereditary ?
Post by: paul.fr on 05/09/2007 18:19:17

Aren't fraternal twins hereditary?

Title: Identical twins...Not hereditary ?
Post by: kdlynn on 05/09/2007 18:20:36

yes. that's because two eggs get fertilized, not one

Title: Identical twins...Not hereditary ?
Post by: neilep on 05/09/2007 19:37:21

These are identical twins giving birth to identical twins !!

two are family cousins...the other is just someone I know !

Title: Identical twins...Not hereditary ?
Post by: Karen W. on 05/09/2007 19:56:16

I always heard you were more prone to have a twin if you were a twin. My mother in law is a twin but her twin died at birth. my uncles on my moms side were twins and had several sets of twins in his marraige three I believe. he had 8 kids.
I have a great great great great great grandparent who had 20 children and there were 5 sets of twins and then 7 were single births and 1 trio of triplets!! LOL I have always had relatives with lots of Kids... Always loved kids! Thats probably why!

BTW two out of the five were identical!