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20 Things You Didn’t Know About Identical Twins

Identical twins develop from the division of a single fertilized egg into two embryos. 12 to 13 days after conception is when this occurs. Identical twins share the greatest genetic similarity between them. Understanding the function of genes in human development has been made possible by research on identical twins.

Genetics significantly affect several traits, according to twin studies. Yet, it’s critical to keep in mind that identical twins are not clones. Their personalities, interests, and fingerprints can be very different. Here are 20 things you didn’t know about identical twins.

1. Identical twins don’t always look alike

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Identical twins may develop varied physical characteristics depending on their environment, including their position in the womb. According to studies published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, identical twins gradually become less similar over time as a result of environmental influences like food choices and chemical exposures. The majority of the time, parents and those close to identical twins can tell them different from an early age.

2. Identical twins don’t have identical fingerprints

As a baby develops, fingerprints are created in the womb. They can slightly change as a result of their environment. At the time of conception, identical twins have the same fingerprints. On the other hand, as they develop and begin to move around in the womb and the amniotic sac, their hands develop distinctive ridges and lines. Due to this, fingerprints are altered.

3. Identical twins can be different sexes

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A single fertilized egg can occasionally separate into two embryos, one of which develops into a male and the other into a girl. This is an instance of mutation, when a pair of male/female identical twins grow from an egg and sperm that started out as male. The fact that 99.9% of boy/girl twin cases are not identical is important to note.

4. Identical twins are rare

Identical twins don’t run in families, but fraternal twins do. In reality, it is thought that identical twins, which occur when a fertilized egg divides into two, are a chance occurrence.

Scientists have created hypotheses that argue differently, but they haven’t been verified. Hence, if your sister or other close relative has identical twins, remember that this is only a coincidence and does not guarantee that you will have identical multiples.

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5. Identical twins can have different personalities

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Due to outside influences and individual experiences, identical twins might have different personalities. Many parents enjoy giving their identical twins the same haircut and wardrobes. People frequently overlook the fact that identical twins have unique personalities. Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same, written by Grace Lin, is a story about identical twins who had very different personalities and even distinct haircuts.

6. Identical twins have a unique language that they use between them

Twins tend to create their own language more often than not. They communicate with each other through this language. Linguists refer to this as cryptophasia. According to research, twin babies frequently use one another to acquire new words. Therefore, a significant number of twins develop their own unique language. But after childhood, their invented languages frequently vanish. This occurs after kids begin studying actual languages.

7. They start bonding in the womb

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Recent 3D ultrasound studies of five sets of twins in the womb were conducted by researchers at the University of Paduva in Italy. The researchers first noted that twins appeared to be reaching out for one another at barely 14 weeks old, touching head to head and arm to head. They started massaging each other more frequently at 18 weeks. It makes sense why twins have such a strong affinity. Unlike the rest of us, they get a head start.

8. Some kind of diet can lead to a person getting twins

Studies suggest that women who consume dairy products may have a higher probability of becoming pregnant with twins. IGF, or insulin-like growth factor, is present in women who consume dairy at a level that is 13 times higher than that of vegans. This protein makes the ovaries more sensitive to the hormone follicle stimulating hormone, which starts the ovulation process.

9. Dogs can tell the difference between identical twins 

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Canines can detect distinctions between twins that people find difficult to distinguish. There are claims that even though the dogs were trained to find certain scents, they were still able to distinguish between twins. This is despite the fact that they live in the same household and eat the same food, the two components that combine to form our unique scents.

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10. Some identical twins are mirror twins

According to a Scientific American article, about 25% of identical twins are mirror images of one another. In other words, while some of their physical characteristics are the same, some are opposite: One might use their left hand, while the other might use their right. The right ear of one person might have curls, while the left ear of another person might have curls.

11. Africa has recorded the highest number of twins

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Central Africa has the highest rate of twin pregnancies in the entire world. According to the BBC, there are up to 45 to 50 twins for every 1,000 live births in the Nigerian village of Igbo-Ora. This village has long been known as having the greatest twin prevalence. The study was conducted from 1972 to 1982.

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12. One identical twin was even sent to space for an experiment

NASA was fortunate to have a set of identical twin astronauts available when they wanted to learn more about how long-term space travel affected the human body. As participants in a 340-day study, Scott Kelly and Mark Kelly, both of whom had previously traveled to space, lived separately aboard the International Space Station and on Earth for the duration of that time. After spending almost a year in space, Scott’s physiology underwent some substantial alterations, according to the findings, which were published in 2019 in the journal Science.

13. Mothers of twins are likely to live longer

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Twin moms are shown to have “reduced postmenopausal mortality… and higher lifetime fertility than their singleton-only carrying counterparts,” according to studies. The mothers of twins have benefited from this factor by living comparatively longer than other women.

14. There’s an annual twins festival in Ohio

Since 1976, twins and multiples have flocked to Twinsburg, Ohio, for the annual Twins Days Celebration at the end of the summer. Over the years, the yearly celebration has drawn 77,000 sets of twins to Twinsburg. Despite the fact that you have to be a twin to go, the event has been beautifully captured for everyone to enjoy. There are several games at the event where winners receive prizes.

15. Identical twins can have different fathers

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Both eggs can be fertilized if a woman experiences two ovulation cycles, releases two eggs, and subsequently reproduces with two different males. Even though this would need to happen in a very specific order, it is not completely impossible. A failed in vitro fertilization can also result in this syndrome, which is known scientifically as heteropaternal superfecundation.

16. The oldest identical twins are Japanese

At 107 years and 300 days old as of 1 September 2021, Umeno Sumiyama and Koume Kodama of Japan have been verified as the oldest identical twins alive and oldest identical twins ever. The workers at the care facility delivered the official certificates from the Guinness World Record to Umeno and Koume, who reside in separate locations. Umeno and Koume were born on Shodo Island in Kagawa, Japan, on November 5, 1913, to a family of thirteen.

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17. Taller women are more likely to get twins

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IGF levels have been found to be greater in taller women, according to some research. This is a protein that is secreted by the liver and helps the shafts of long bones develop. Yet, greater IGF levels also make the ovaries more responsive, which increases the likelihood that they will ovulate.

18. There is a twin gene

A woman is more likely to release more than one egg during ovulation when she has hyper ovulation. As a result, there is a greater likelihood that many eggs may be fertilized, leading to the birth of fraternal twins. It is likely that you will inherit the gene for hyper ovulation and have additional twins if someone in your family had it and a set of twins. Having identical twins, however, is entirely dependent on chance since this occurs when one fertilized egg divides into two and there is no gene linked to that process.

19. They can affect each other’s sleep cycle

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As babies, if one of them wakes up at night and cries for the parent, the other one will wake up and join them. While this might happen to any two babies sleeping in the same room, when twins get older, if one of them is awake, the other one is also very unlikely to go to bed.

20. They can be distinguished by looking at the belly button

Examining the belly buttons of identical twins can help you tell them apart. There is no hereditary component to these marks; they are merely scars from where the umbilical cord attached the newborn to the mother. The only issue here is that if you ask someone to show you their belly button for identification purposes, they can find it quite offensive.

Since ancient times, scientists have been fascinated by the phenomena of identical twins. They make a perfect model for figuring out how genes affect human development because of their similar genetic make-up. Genetic factors significantly influence a variety of attributes, such as IQ, personality, and risk for developing specific diseases, according to twin studies. Nonetheless, environmental factors also come into play, and not all identical twins are identical in every regard. Their physical characteristics, interests, and life experiences could vary. I hope you enjoyed these facts about identical twins!