If you're 'told' they are identical, but reallly wonder....*updated July* - Page 2

[OGirlieMama]

Originally Posted by Lisa1970 

Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are even fraternal, but looked enough alike to be switched out for Full House. 

A lot of people believe that their parents were told they're fraternal because they were di-di, and back then, that was the conventional wisdom. Obviously, it's sheer speculation, but I buy it. 

[ChaoticMum]

THanks everyone!! I think that's my question - was it really one, or two fused. I could look into getting the paperwork - I never heard anything about pathology on the placenta....

I guess its just that innate curiosity. I'm awful for this - wavering back and forth. Drives my husband nuts! LOL

[~Adorkable~]

And for the lady that has B/G twins, did you know that there is apparently a version of twins that are "half identical"??! And that they can be B/G. Apparently happens when the egg splits BEFORE it's fertilized and then goes on to get fertilized by two different sperm. A DNA test would show the identical info from the moms side but normal sibling relation on the dads side.

Strange huh?

[hergrace]

Originally Posted by ~Adorkable~ 

And for the lady that has B/G twins, did you know that there is apparently a version of twins that are "half identical"??! And that they can be B/G. Apparently happens when the egg splits BEFORE it's fertilized and then goes on to get fertilized by two different sperm. A DNA test would show the identical info from the moms side but normal sibling relation on the dads side.

Strange huh?

I believe that this what you are describing is a purely theoretical model of twinning and hasn't been documented as actually occurring. There is one known case of a egg being fertilized by two sperm and then splitting, yielding "semi-identical" twins,

[ChaoticMum]

http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu161/BaronMum/layers.jpg  at 1yr of age

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IF9LcwpkKmgOKhxh7SXi-pebJBkCfyjw4eM_ytpHgng?feat=directlink  at 21mths   *Edited to put in the CORRECT picture...*

I layered their photos - I had to flip the top one to mirror it and when I did - well....I guess this could be my DNA test! LOL

Edited by ChaoticMum - 7/5/11 at 10:28am

[Gena 22]

That is amazing!  You did it, no testing necessary!  I think you also win a prize for most identical MZ twins.

[ChaoticMum]

Isn't it? I edited it to put the correct lined up properly picture in there for 21mths - its amazing how once I flipped it - it just flowed together! I was quite shocked actually!

[~Adorkable~]

that is soo amazing how the birthmark and everything lined up so perfectly!! and mirror image that is cool! i still think the 21 month picture is the wrong one btw

i wanted to ad about folks that always ponder the one placenta or two, my B/G twins had what really looked like one placenta but clearly was just a fused pair of them.  strangely the whole pregnancy they always mentioned that my placentas where wonderful and in part because they were far apart from each other, even near the end. so i was pretty shocked when i took them home and took a look at them and there was one, at first i though they threw one out, but then i knew otherwise as the one had two cords!

[Jane93]

I've been wondering about my girls too.  The perinatologist and hospital were 100% sure they are ID but I was noting many differences in looks as infants.  Now that they are 17 months, I think they are looking more identical but I am still not sure.

I've been thinking about doing the DNA test.  I'm a little worried that if they think that they are identical and they are really fraternal, they will be unduly pressurized (by themselves/society -- I'm trying really hard NOT to do it) to conform to one another -- to be "identical".

[SympatheticDad]

The phrase "identical twins" is in and of itself misleading.  As you've noticed, "identical" twins can look quite different.  We don't look the way we look just because of our genes, but also because of environmental factors -- to take just one example, the way the fetuses move around in the uterus can have significant effect on the shape of the child's head.   And any parent of "identical" twins can tell you that there are a hundred little visual differences that become obvious once you get to know them.

The more accurate term for "identical twins" is "monozygotic" - they came from one egg, they share the same genes, but apart from purely genetic aspects (e.g., eye color) there's no guarantee that they can or should look the same.

[Red Pajama]

people confuse my two, even though I think they look very different. I know mine are fraternal, as they have different blood types.

As for your boys, I suspect they are identical.

I once taught a set of twins who were so very identical that they couldn't tell themselves apart in photos.