I am convinced that I am a half-identical twin, apparently ther's not much proof of this phenomenon, but?

Question

one case appears to have been confirmed very recently, in this case one of them was a hermaphrodite because he was a chimera. What I am wondering is, would such cases always neccessarily be disastrous like that, because me and my brother are both completely normal, and, how can I go about confirming wether I am or not really a "half-identical twin", is there any test the doctor can make on me to see if this is the case or not, and would he definitely have noticed when I was born if that was the case?
Thanks.

We are both men, and as far as we are aware we are identical twins. Ther's nothing abnormal about us. But I think I might be something I heard of called half-identical.

I am NOT a chimera. THIS is what I mean by half-identical:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin#Semi-identical
http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/070326_semi_twins.html

Answer 1

There is such thing as half identical twins....refer nature. (just published). The only way to tell would be genetic testing with you, your brother and father. Half identical are identical to your mother, but only half your genes are identical to your father. a non-mitochondrial dna test would be needed. chances are you are not though

Answer 2

It is indeed very rare, but there are more than a dozen cases of chimeras. As far as being half-identical, it doesn't exist, if you fused with an identical sibling in utero you wouldn't be able to tell because both cell lines would be the same, on the other hand if you fused with a fraternal twin you could tell, but unless your looking for a lot of painful tests I suggest that you pass. Since chimeras have tissues from two distinct cell lines, they would most likely have to take a multiple organ tissue biopsy to make sure that you have more than one kind of DNA. If your willing to go that far I think it would be difficult to find a doctor who would do it, and would be above all, very expensive.

Answer 3

You don't explain the facts very well. It sounds like you and your brother are twins, and you've always been told that you are fraternal twins, but you are convinced that you are identical twins instead. Is that what you're saying?

But understand this ... two brothers who are not identical twins, (including two brothers from different pregnancies), could in theory, have nearly identical genes. Although it is *extremely* unlikely, the same combinations of your father's and mother's genes that produced your brother could also have come about by chance with you as well. Although it is unlikely (as in one in billions) for you both to have *exactly* the same gene, two normal brothers can have a *lot* of similarity.

But there is no such thing (as far as I know) of a "half-identical twin."

Answer 4

I think I am confused. YOU do know if you are a twin or not, right? It is possible to not know you are a surviving twin, if the doctor didn't tell your parents, or they did not tell you. My younger son is a surviving twin. He always seemed to be searching for 'himself'............really odd, for anyone EXCEPT a surviving twin, who never got to meet his twin who did not make it into life. There is NO evidence that anything abnormal is related to being a twin. Be happy with the person you are, and be the best you, you can be!

Answer 5

Almost-identical twins are a genetic first http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070326/hl_afp/healthsciencefertility_070326171923

Answer 6

You mean, you are a mosaic? I am not sure if that is what you mean...check
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/11/13/nivf113.xml

Answer 7

try looking for studies to enroll in.

Answer 8

Are you saying your haplodiploidy?

Answer 9

wat