Do identical twins have identical DNA?

Answer 1

yes.

One sperm fertilizes one egg. Twins start off as one person. Then that fertilized egg slpilts, giving you two identical copies of that one original person. Because the egg splits like that, they both have the same DNA.

Answer 2

YES! Here is the answer from ask yahoo in a 2001 article:

Although identical twins have the same genotype, or DNA, they have different phenotypes, meaning that the same DNA is expressed in different ways.

Traits determined by phenotype, such as fingerprints and physical appearance, are the result of "the interaction of the individual�s genes and the developmental environment in the uterus." Thus, a DNA test can't determine the difference between identical twins, while a simple fingerprint can.

Answer 3

In general terms, yes. That's why they look so similar. Both twins have originated from the same fertilised egg, so will have started with the same genes.
On a smaller scale, there will be variations. The DNA in cells mutates constantly as a result of natural radiation, errors in copying, etc. In addition, your immune system uses deliberate mutation to produce as comprehensive a defense as possible against invaders - so a disease may well affect identical twins in very different ways. However, the variations between different cells in your body is considerably greater than the variation between two identical twins.

Answer 4

No. Identical twins does not have the identical DNA although both of them may looks alike. It is the same comcept with thumb prints. Nobody has the same thumb print with another person. Because of their DNA structure thus everyone is unique.DNA is a very complicated set of molecules. Thus it is quite impossible to have the same DNA as when the sperm enters the egg, it will have a child. If 2 sperms fertilise a egg. 2 children will be born. As i say it is 2 different sperms (although it is still frm the same person), the DNA will be more or less be same but NOT totally the same. Thats why the look alike due to the inheritance

Answer 5

They start out as identical eggs, and so they both have DNA identical to what the original egg had before it divided. Negligible differences would be found in the DNA of identical twins. They will vary in things that aren't just down to genetics, such as fingerprints. Trust me, I've a PhD in Biology.

Answer 6

Yupe Identical twins have identical DNA, since the zygote divides mitotically ( by mitosis ) so the cells r identical.
However, no-one on earth has the same identical finger prints of another person, even identical twins don't have. Why do u think the police uses it as a way to know the criminal :P:D

Answer 7

Officially, yes. They start out with identical DNA. As we get older our DNA breaks down. The DNA of the twins breaks down differently so they can end up different. Like previous posters said, our DNA tests can't tell the difference though.

Answer 8

Yes - that's what makes them identical.

Identical twins are formed when a single egg fertilised by a single sperm developing into a foetus becomes divided into two. Because both started from the same fertilised egg, both twins have to have the same DNA - there isn't any other DNA around to make them different!

Non-identical twins are formed when two separate eggs are produced by the mother at the same time and both become fertilised and develop into babies. Because these started from different eggs and different sperm their DNA is different.

Answer 9

Identical DNA? are you asking if all the base pairs are exactly the same?

I don't know, why dont you work out the genotype of a set of twins and let me know the results :p

Answer 10

If they are identical twins then yes they have identical DNA,,,,and to one of the previous answers they can not have identical fingerprints--its impossible. Fingerprints are made by the baby touching the wall of the uterus or itself for that fact, but there is 0% chance that their fingerprints are identical