Do identical twins have the same DNA?

Answer 1

YES, identical twins have the exact same DNA. But it is important to recognize the fact that DNA does not work like a computer program, and thus twins will have subtle differences.

First, the environment impacts development, and secondly, regulation of development is an incredibly complex process based on activity of molecules, and transcription factors, and receptors, and thus it is not perfect. It will not provide carbon copies just because the DNA is exactly the same.



PLEASE IGNORE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING THE DNA IS DIFFERENT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS IF THEY ARE NOT SURE ABOUT THE ANSWER.

Answer 2

Yes.
Identical twins are formed by one egg and one sperm. In an early division, the cells split and make two embryos with the same DNA. They will be the same sex because they have the same DNA.
Boy/Girl Twins are always fraternal, not identical because the sperm are different and they come from two separate eggs, so they are genetically more like brother and sister, but could also be two boys or two girls, whose DNA is not identical.
However! There are some differences even though identical twins share the same DNA since many other factors contribute to final development, disease resistance, psychiatric disorders, or even gender preference. There is more concordance for these things in identical twins than in fraternal twins.

Answer 3

Identical twins are the only people in the world with identical DNA It is best explained by the fact the identical twins were formed with one fertilized egg that splits. In analogy, it is like one fruit which parts after cutting are identical. When you cut banana into half, would the other part be different? Of course they will remain identical to each other.

But the very important point to remember is that 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.

Another important aspect to consider is that as the twins grow, there is possibilty of some genetic mutations which will result to produce tiny differences in the twins DNA but it is highly sensitive method to identify or locate such DNA mutation. Thus in the simplest process, twins end to be genetically the same.

For differentiation":
>>Genotype is what makes up our genes, that is, our DNA.
>>Phenotype refers to the characteristics due to the expression of our DNA. It is usually based on a complex interaction of several genes. It often refers to visible characteristics, but can refer to characteristics only visible with lab studies. For more details on this, check out this link:
http://ttb.eng.wayne.edu/~cavanau/ch18lec5030w2000.html
Hope it helps.☺

Answer 4

Yes they do, don't believe those people who say they don't, seems like they don't know about the phases of the zygote and how identical twin embryos are formed.

When zygote starts its cleavage, it sometimes form two seperate embryos instead of two united cells, and then both cells continues to cleave as usual, resulting in identical twins. There is a case when two eggs fertilized by two sperms then tose twins won't have the same DNA or sex or look, they will be like just ordinary siblings. Identicals are about %95 same on the look but that's nothing to do with their DNAs. It's just the environment that makes the difference.

Answer 5

YES! I'm the mother of identical twins. Identical twins have identical DNA. Identical twins come from the same fertilized egg that splits so they have the exact same genetic material.

So YES, identical twins have the same DNA!

(Sorry to be so repetitive but it drives me nuts that there are some many people out there who think they don't.)

Answer 6

Yes, they do have identical DNA. Since they both come from the same split cell that only has one set of DNA, both twins will have identical DNA. Fraternal twins DO NOT have identical DNA.

Answer 7

They have identical DNA ( genotypes) but different mutations of this DNA occur hence why there are different fingerprints

The phenotypes in Identical twins are different , this is the way that DNA is expressed this can be affected by enviroment and random mutation. In the womb a baby experiences different things e.g position which has an effect on their phenotype

Answer 8

similar twins are one fertilized egg that splits. So, they have a similar DNA. Male similar twins will be correct replicas. woman similar twins can decision rather. this can be a effect of receiving 2 x chromosomes, one from the mum and one from the daddy. throughout embryo progression, between the xs in each and every cellular will develop into inactive. Then because the toddler develops, the cells mirror. One woman twin can want the X from the mum, at the same time as the different ought to wish the X from the daddy. they are going to nonetheless seem similar, yet there ought to nicely be mild transformations.

Answer 9

Identical twins arises during the early stages of the development of the embryo. As the zygote undergoes sucessive rounds of division it splits into two which both continue to divide and develope into embryos then foetus and hopefully two healthy babies. The implication of this is that the started out from the same ovum and sperm and hence near as damn it identical DNA. However, as many have already pointed out, the likelihood is that a number of mutations will occur both during development in the womb and indeed in cells throughout the life of our twins. As mutations are to a degree random it is unlikely that the same mutations will arise in both individuals therefore the twins will have incredibly similar DNA sequences but not totally 100% identical.
BTW Non identical twins usually arise when the mother releases two ovum during her cycle, which are then fertilised but two sperm (one per ovum) from the father, this means they have different sources of DNA and have a lower % identity between their sequences than identical twins.

Answer 10

I find it hard to believe that so many people answered this one 'No'. In fact asking "Do identical twins have the same DNA?" is like asking "Are identical twins identical twins?" Yes they do and yes they are - it is the identical DNA that makes them identical twins. In fact that are genotypically much closer than they are phenotypically - their genes are identical but their bodies (their phenotypes) aren't. Enironment affects the body but not the genes. Cannot be otherwise.