Twins Question?

Question

How can you tell if twins are identical?

Now don't give me a stupid answer. I know how twins are formed and the different types. My sisters are fraternal twins. Obviously, if you have an u/s and find out you're having a boy and a girl, they're fraternal. I've noticed a lot of people saying they are pregnant with identical twins- how do they know for sure? I was told that there wasn't a real way to identify identical twins except by looking at them. I was told that Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen aren't identical . Any help?

What test did they come up with and when? My sisters are 23 and I know things have changed a lot since then. I know how it works, but specifically how? And what tests?

Answer 1

It is not possible to tell if you are carrying identical twins... after birth, you can choose to have a test done to see whether or not they are...the Olsen twins are not identical... you can tell by looking at them... a test is needed... siblings do tend to look alike... have a great day!

Answer 2

Identical twins develop when a fertilized egg splits. Depending on when the split occurs will determine if the twins share a placenta, with either one or two chorions and amnions, or if they each develop their own placentas. In general, the later the spit occurs, the more likely that the twins will share one placenta.

Even after they are born, it is sometimes difficult to know whether twins are identical or fraternal. It can be easier if they:

* share one placenta (identical)
* are different sexes (fraternal)
* have different blood types (fraternal)

There are several clues as to whether the twins are identical or fraternal. If they have a different gender or blood type one immediately knows that they are fraternal. At the time of delivery, the doctor can examine the placenta. The membranes that surround the babies before birth often have a characteristic pattern with identical twins. However, this method is not certain in all cases. In some cases only genetic testing can tell for sure if twins are identical. Regardless of whether they are identical or fraternal, you are in for some great times raising your twins. Congratulations and good luck,

Answer 3

Good question!

I know I am having identical twins for one simple reason- my twins share an amniotic sac, placenta and obviously the outer chorion.

As you know, fraternal twins are formed by two eggs having getting fertilized- so on an ultrasound you see them as two seperate babies, in different chorions (outer sacs), amnions (inner sacs) and with their own placentas. They can be boy/boy- boy/girl- girl/girl.

Identical twins- are able to be identified in utero if they are sharing the same chorion or amnion. Identical twins are 99.9% of the time the same sex except in very very very rare instances. However, if the splitting of the egg occurs from 1-3 days after conception they may have two seperate sacs as well and therefore require further testing after birth.

After birth occurs, genetic testing can be done immediately (or anytime thereafter) for about $100 USD to accurately determine the zygosity of the babies as fraternal/identical.

Fraternal twins CAN look extremely identical!!! If chorionicity was not determined while in the uterus, then the only 100% way to know is the genetic testing.

Mary Kate and Ashley aren't identical- they are in fact fraternal (but goes to show how identical fraternals can be sometimes!)




EDIT: www.proactivegenetics.com is a site you can check into for at home zygosity testing.
Or google the term "twin zygosity test" and tons of sites offering the testing come up.

Answer 4

MK and ashley aren't identical believe it or not! My husband is an identical twin. You can check the placenta after birth and that is how doctors know for sure if they are identical. Also identical twins can sometimes be in just one sack in the womb instead of two. All fraternal twins have two sacks so if the babies share a sack that is a give away, but not all identical twins share a sac. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

No Mary-Kate and Ashley are not identical.Identical twins have identical DNA. Identical twins occur when a single egg is fertilised to form one zygote which then divides into two separate embryos. The two embryos develop into fetuses sharing the same womb. When one egg is fertilised by one sperm cell, and then divides and separates, two identical cells will result. Depending on the stage at which the zygote divides, identical twins may share the same amnion. But check this out they may not look alike bet you didnt know that! Although their traits and physical appearances are not exactly the same due to environmental conditions in both the womb and outside the womb, they do have the same DNA

Answer 6

They did genetics testing on mine. A lot of times they can't tell when they are born and other times it is very obvious by the placenta and sacs. It wasn't obvious with my babies so they asked if we wanted them tested. I said yes based on curiosity and medical reasons. They test the placenta.

Answer 7

The main way to tell by ultrasound is if the babies are sharing one sack in utero, instead of each in their own sack. Another way to tell would be if they have one shared placenta.

Answer 8

they have tests to tell if the twins came from the same egg that split apart.

Answer 9

they can tell fraternal from identical from an ultrasound...theres either going to be (1) sac with 2 babies, or (2) separate sacs