After two and a half year’s of hearing the question, “Are they identical?”, we are fed up of answering with, “I don’t know”. This obviously leads to numerous other questions, and when all you wanted was a pint of milk in the supermarket, that soon becomes annoying! Aside from which, I genuinely WOULD like to know if my twins are identical or non identical. I’d like to be able to tell them, when they are old enough to ask.
So, we are getting a zygosity test done, by DNA Solutions. Today we took cheek swaps, from both twins and packaged them into an envelope and sent it off for analysis. I don’t know how long it will take to get a response, but I’m excited about it.
For those who don’t know…
Identical twins are caused by one sperm, fertilising one egg, and then the egg splits into two embryos. The twins have identical DNA.
Non identical twins are caused by two eggs, fertilised by two sperm and have 50% of the same DNA – just like any siblings with the same parents.
Semi-identical twins, although extremely rare, is caused by two sperm, fertilising one egg, before the egg splits. Meaning the twins carry identical DNA from the mother, and Non Identical DNA from the Father. Only one case of semi ID twins in the world, have ever gone public.
The majority of people only get the straightforward ID / Non ID zygosity test, which is probably why there are so few cases of semi-identical twins in the world. But I am a curious creature, so I am having the full test done.
I personally, as Tiny and Fluffy’s Mummy, don’t think they look very much like each other. But there are some days, when they do. Some days, when we get them mixed up (but only for a split second!).
So here’s where you can get involved (just for a bit of fun)…
Here are some photos of Tiny and Fluffy. I would like you to guess…
Do YOU think our twins are Identical, Non Identical, or Semi Identical?
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I will blog the poll results AND the DNA results, as soon as the DNA results come through.
I think identical 🙂 x
Kim Carberry recently posted..Our Weekly Meal Plan!! – #mealplanningmonday
I will be watching with interest! From all my scans & placenta I was told our are ID but like you I’m not sure as they look so different but now when I look back at photos of them as babies they do look so similar even though I never thought it at the time. Can I ask where you had the test done and how much it cost? I’m so curious about our girls xx
If they told you they are ID then they are definitely ID. If they shared a sac and placenta then they are ID.
If they have a sac and a placenta each, then they “assume” them to be non ID, but there is still a 30% chance of them being ID.
I think I put in a link to DNA Solutions at the start of this post. That’s who is doing our test. Prices are on their website. The full test that we are having is £189 but the more straightforward test is about half that I think x
Fab thanks. The only thing that I often wonder about is that my placenta was 4 times the size of an average one so I wonder if it could possibly have fused that makes me wonder if they are ID x
Beth Twinderelmo recently posted..5 Ways To GUARANTEE Your Kid Will Be Mary / Joseph
Ah possibly!! X
My mum is a twin. Growing up my grandad thought they were identical but grandma didn’t. When they were 50 they decided to find out. Turns out they are identical, don’t think either were happy about the result!
They look pretty identical to me, but actually (as the mum of a genetically mapped out kid) I’m quote surprised they don’t test at birth to find out. Hilariously I have a friend with boy and girl twins and she still gets asked if they are identical!!!
Downs Side Up recently posted..Anti-bullying Week: Fighting the Statistics with Love
I reckon identical. Can’t wait to find out
Clare @ Emmy’s Mummy recently posted..My Mischievous Toddler
They look amazingly identical. I’m not surprised you want to find out.
In the first two pics they look completely different.. But the one where they’re on the bed and when they’re with Bunny, they look identical!!
I think identical, they look too similar not to be – my friend has identical boys & they are looking more & more different as they get older
HELEN recently posted..A Next Christmas
This is so interesting Emma, I bet yours turn out to be the unusual semi-identical, will wait to see.
Lorraine x
nortonmum recently posted..Tommy’s get tech My Premature Baby App
Oh I am so excited to hear the result haha – I think they are identical but semi ID sounds really interesting 🙂 x
El and Baby A recently posted..Christmas Collection | Link up
This is fascinating and I’m really intrigued. I have a friend with 2 sets of twins who are both identical (super rare) and another with 2 sets of twins who look identical, but her boys are and girls aren’t!. I’m going with non-identical because I can tell your beautiful daughters apart 🙂
Jenny @ The Brick Castle recently posted..Christmas Gifts for the man (or woman) who has everything….
Oh bless them. I think they look very similar but I’d say non-identical. We saw you at the ice skating today, my little girl kept asking if one of your girls could sit on the push along thing with her. It must be lovely for them having company, Libby can’t wait for Lia to be old enough to play with her at things like that. I hope you had a lovely day, we thought it was fabulous.xx
Natalie Ray recently posted..Christmas at Webbs, Wychbold
Ah you should have said hello! Mine would have loved to play with your little girl x
As another twin mummy I went for Non-ID too. Were they in one sac or shared one? Mich x
Michelle Twin Mum recently posted..Buying Beautiful Ethical Gifts and a Super #Giveaway
Two sacs two placentas x
Ohh but ended up ID anyway, clever stuff!
Michelle Twin Mum recently posted..In His Time