Is it possible for identical twins to have the same exact DNA?

Answer 1

to the previous poster who stated that only clones can have identical DNAs. Identical twins are technically natural clones. When identical twins look different it is normally due to different environmental conditions that occurs to them after they seperate from each other. IE one has had better nutrition or one stayed in a lot while the other sunbathed excessively. So identical twins one under ideal environments say grew up in a wealthy family in countries like like Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan, and the US and the other grew up in a poor family in Cambodia or Ethiopia may look very different by the age 50. Sometimes environmental differences occur even in the womb.

"Identical twins (monozygotic) result when a single fertilized egg splits after conception. The resulting twins are the same sex and genetically alike, with similar foot and hand prints, but different fingerprints and teeth marks. The egg then splits into two genetically identical halves. They share 100% of their genes."

http://twinsworld.com/stats.html

Answer 2

Identical twins started out as a single fertilized egg. Very early during cell division the cellular mass divided into two individual masses, each with the same identical DNA. So, your answer is, yes. Identical twins have identical DNA (at least at the point of mass division. There is the potential during subsequent cellular divisions for mutations to occur, but let's assume that your teacher was not counting on this to happen in her question.)

BIOLOGY TEACHER

Answer 3

Zygosity is the genetic relationship between two twins. With respect to genetic similarities or dissimilarities, twins are classified as identical or fraternal.

When one egg is fertilized by a single sperm cell and then splits, two identical or monozygous twins will result. These twins are referred to as identical since the sequence of the twins' DNA is identical. Identical twins must be of the same sex. Importantly, the term "identical" often does not apply to the actual physical or behavioral similarities between identical twins. However, identical twins tend to be very similar for traits such as hair color, hair texture, eye color, height, and weight.

When two eggs are independently fertilized by two sperm cells, fraternal or dizygous twins result. Fraternal twins do not have identical DNA but will have half of their DNA in common, just like siblings of the same parents that are born at different times. Fraternal twins can either be of the same sex or different sex.

Answer 4

I heard identical twins' DNA is almost exactly the same, but I have never heard that their DNA is identical. I think it is possible, logically speaking, but I am not a genetics expert.

Answer 5

Identical twins have the same DNA, as they are from the same original fertilized egg.

Answer 6

Possible, perhaps even very likely. Identical twins are commonly said to have the same DNA.

But ...
The average human has about 150 - 250 mutations. If even 10% of these occur after zygote split, the twins would be separated by some 30 - 50 mutations. (Only about 1% of mutations are harmful is some way, usually by causing some lack of disease resistance, or susceptibility to cancers.)

Answer 7

In short, no. Despite the fact that 99% of human DNA is repeat DNA, human DNA contains variations unique to individuals called SNP's, or single nucleotide polymorphisms. DNA consists of a sugar-phosphate backbone and nucleotide bases called purines and pyrimidines. There are four of these bases, cytosine, thymine, adenine, and guanine. Cytosine pairs with guanine and adenine pairs with thymine. These pairs are the rungs on a ladder that are twisted into a double helix. The SNP's are individual differences in those base pairs between you and I. For example, in a random piece of DNA at the same location between you and I, you might have ctaaggctg, and I might have cttaggcta. These small differences make up only a small part of human DNA, but they are the differences that separate us from Apes and Gorillas, and give rise to humans like Jeffrey Dahmer, Jesus Christ, Mother Theresa, and Britney Spears.

Answer 8

Is it Possibe?????? Thats a fact!!!! Identical Twins are the only human beings with the same DNA

Answer 9

Identical twin DO have the same DNA!
They come from the SAME cell cluster!
For the idiots above!
One cell has One set of DNA.....OK
The cell divides, now Two cells and two sets of DNA, identical to the first cell.....OK
The cluster breaks, and continues to multiply, but TWO kids are formed, using the SAME genetic coding and
USING THE SAME DNA PATTERN!

Answer 10

Identical,..Yes