Are my twins identical or fraternal?
Twin zygosity
If you are pregnant
with twins, you will soon be faced with unique joys and challenges that may not
be present in single births. When it comes to twins, parents often wonder if
the twins are identical or fraternal.
Experts offer a DNA
twin zygosity test that accurately determines whether twins are identical or
fraternal. The twin zygosity DNA test is a simple procedure done some time
after the birth of the children. Some parents choose to start testing
immediately, while others choose to delay testing until the twins'
characteristics emerge later in life.
When twins are born,
a doctor can usually tell if the twins are identical or fraternal by examining
the placenta; Identical twins usually have one placenta, while fraternal twins
usually have two different placentas.
However, for
confirmation in a twin zygosity DNA test, the DNA profiles of the twins are
compared to confirm if they match. An exact match proves that the twins are
identical.
Reasons for
considering the Twin Zygosity DNA test include:
- Records from birth may be lost or inaccurate.
- The twins’ placentas may have been discarded or damaged before twin zygosity was determined, especially in the event of an emergency or health-threatening birth experience.
- Different physical traits may emerge as the twins grow, casting doubt on the twins’ original zygosity.
- Personal curiosity may lead you to pursue confirmation of twin zygosity.
Identical twins vs fraternal twins
Identical twins come
from a fertilized egg called a zygote. The zygote, which normally develops into
one child, develops and divides early in development to form two embryos.
Because twins come from an egg and a sperm, they have exactly the same DNA and
are therefore identical twins.
Fraternal twins, on the other hand, develop when there are two different eggs in the womb that are fertilized by two different sperm. Fraternal twins will not have exactly the same DNA, although, like other siblings, they can be expected to have some of the DNA that they have inherited from both parents.