Here are some facts that you might not know about twins!
Although identical twins have the same DNA they do not share the same fingerprints!
Boy/Girl twins can be identical. It is a rare genetic mutation in monozygotic male twins. Basically after the zygote splits one twin loses a Y chromosome and becomes a female. The female twin will develop Turner Syndrome. Only 10 cases have been reported world wide!
Elvis Presley was an identical twin. His brother's name was Jesse Garon Presley and he died at birth.
Twins have a 22% chance of being left handed. Singletons only have a 10% chance!
There are seven different types of twins: fraternal, identical, half identical, mirror image, superfecundation, superfetation and mixed chromosome twins!
The average weight of a twin at birth is five and a half pounds.
China has the lowest rate of twins in the world.
The Yoruba Tribe of Nigeria has the highest rate of twins! They claim it is because of their high intake of yams.
Fraternal twins are hereditary. Identical twins are not. Identical twins are considered a “fluke”.
Idioglossia is the term used to refer to the secret language of twins!
A woman from Italy gave birth to 11 sets of fraternal twins in 11 years, the last being in 1947. Unfortunately not all of them survived.
The largest twins ever born to date were a whopping 27 lbs and 12 ounces. They were born to Mrs. J.P. Haskin of Arkansas.
“Vanishing twin” is the term used when one twin is lost in utero. This is frequently encountered in pregnancies that were a result of Invitro Fertilization.
There are currently 11 million sets of identical twins in the world today.
A recent study by Umberto Castiello of the University of Padova, Italy published a report in the journal PloS in October that showed that unborn twins interact with each other as early as 14 weeks!
In a recent German study it was revealed that 75% of twins are born within 15 minutes of each other.
Approximately 40-60% of conjoined twins arrive stillborn.. The overall survival rate if conjoined twins are between 5-25%.
Superfecundation is the term used when two different males father a set of fraternal twins.
Many universities in the United States offer discounts to twins who attend the same school. Make sure to ask when enrolling!
Kieffer Sutherland, Alanis Morrisette, Ed Sullivan, Ashton Kutcher, Scarlett Johansson, and Gisele Bundchen are all twins!
Make sure to join us on Facebook for pics, tips and chuckles!
