For Logan & Jack's first birthday my mom and dad bought us a DNA test so we can determine the boys' twin type. Our boys are known as diamnionic/dichorionic twins, meaning they each had their own placenta & sack. Many people are misinformed about twins in general, but particularly with regard to twin type. I am here to set the record straight.
There are three basic types of twins:
1. Identical
2. Fraternal
3. Semi-identical
-Identical twins have identical DNA and form when ONE egg *spontaneously* splits in two. Identical twins occur randomly in nature. Family history has no impact on identical twinning.
Identical twins CAN have their own placenta & sack if they split within three days of fertilization.
-Fraternal twins occur when TWO eggs drop and are fertilized by different sperm. Fraternal twins are impacted by maternal family history only (and NOT paternal family history) Fraternal twinning is also influenced maternal age (the older you are, the more likely you are to drop two eggs at once, resulting in twins). Fraternal twinning is more common than identical twinning.
-Semi-identical twinning is a newly discovered phenomenon. Semi-identical twins occur when the mother drops an egg, it splits in TWO and is then fertilized by two separate sperm. The DNA they have from their mother is identical, but the DNA they have from their father is not.
1. Identical
2. Fraternal
3. Semi-identical
-Identical twins have identical DNA and form when ONE egg *spontaneously* splits in two. Identical twins occur randomly in nature. Family history has no impact on identical twinning.
Identical twins CAN have their own placenta & sack if they split within three days of fertilization.
-Fraternal twins occur when TWO eggs drop and are fertilized by different sperm. Fraternal twins are impacted by maternal family history only (and NOT paternal family history) Fraternal twinning is also influenced maternal age (the older you are, the more likely you are to drop two eggs at once, resulting in twins). Fraternal twinning is more common than identical twinning.
-Semi-identical twinning is a newly discovered phenomenon. Semi-identical twins occur when the mother drops an egg, it splits in TWO and is then fertilized by two separate sperm. The DNA they have from their mother is identical, but the DNA they have from their father is not.
The natural occurrence of twins is 1 in 89 births. In America, that statistic has skyrocketed to 1 in 33 births.
Now that your head is full to the brim with Twin Facts, I would like to take a poll. Do you think that Jack & Logan (pictured below) are identical or fraternal or semi-identical?
Daddy is voting FRATERNAL.
Mommy is voting IDENTICAL.
Now that your head is full to the brim with Twin Facts, I would like to take a poll. Do you think that Jack & Logan (pictured below) are identical or fraternal or semi-identical?
Daddy is voting FRATERNAL.
Mommy is voting IDENTICAL.
We plan to reveal the BIG RESULTS at their first birthday.
We shall see who is right- Mommy or Daddy
(Don't worry, I also plan to post the results right here, on my blog)
We shall see who is right- Mommy or Daddy
(Don't worry, I also plan to post the results right here, on my blog)
