Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Semi-identical twins 'identified for only the second time'
You might have or have seen twin boys, girls, or boy and girl. How different each other are they? Besides gender, there are commonly two types of twins. Identical twins share the completely same DNA both from the father and mother because they are originally from a single egg, fertilized by a single sperm. Though they share the same DNA and look alike, environmental factors and different experiences cause a difference in personality and appearance over time.
In contrast, fraternal twins are born from two separately fertilized eggs. They share half paternal and half maternal DNAs. Unlike identical twins, fraternal twins could be brothers, sisters or a brother and sister. Yes, they are just like siblings born at the same time, or just a few minutes apart.
But when two sperms fertilize one egg simultaneously, and the double fertilized egg divides and create two babies, they are classified as semi-identical twins, though such case is extremely rare. One case, thought to be the second once confirmed, was recently reported in Australia. It was found through routine ultrasound scans conducted to the mother during the pregnancy. But if the scans hadn’t been done, neither the doctors nor parents would only know that the babies were a twin boy and girl.
Now imagine how many twins had been ultra-sound scanned before their births in the world. Many of the parents in medically undeveloped communities would never know whether they are identical, fraternal or semi-identical until they are grown, or never.
Enjoy reading and learn how twins or multiples are created and different.
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