Contents:

1.Introduction
2.Identical and fraternal twins
3.Differences between identical and
fraternal twins

4.Different ways in which cell division

can occur in twins

5.Conjoined twins

6.Types of conjoined twins

7.Bibliography

Introduction
At least everybody knows some one or knows of someone who is a
twin, but none of us really ever stop to think about why there are
twins and how are they formed What processes does it involve?
how many types of twins can we have? What are conjoined
twins?etc.

Here is an attempt to explain what twinning is, and to explain the

various questions related to it.

Basically there are two types of twins:

1. Identical twins: Monozgotic twins, having a very similar

genetic make-up, are always the same sex, have the same
blood type, and usually look very similar. There are
exceptions though. Some identical twins do not have the
exact same genetic composition. The rate of identical
twinning shows little variation with the mother’s age but
identical twins occur approximately once out of 250 births.
2. Fraternal twins:. Dizgotic or fraternal twins are twice as more
common than identical twins. These twins arise from
multiple ovulation. Normally, just a single ovum is released
from an ovaryeach month. When more than a single ovum is
released it is called multiple ovulation. If all of the ova are
fertilized, genetically dissimilar twins or higher multiples
may occur. Dizgotic twins usually do not share anymore
similarities than would be expected with any siblings.
Fraternal twins often have a different gender, blood type and
other characteristics. Studies also show that the rate of
fraternal twinning increases with the mother’s age.

Then there can be polar body twins also, which are very rare.
There is one special type of twins called conjoined twins. They
have fascinated the people for centuries now. They are also called
as Siamese twins.

The rarest type of twinning would be the twins by two different

fathers. This is called “Heteropaternal Superfecundation. This
occurs when an egg is released, even though another egg has
already been fertilized. If the second egg is fertilized by another
man’s sperm, the fetuses would be no closer genetically than half
siblings. There are not very many cases depicting this type of birth.

Now we will get an idea of what identical, fraternal and conjoined

twins are:

Identical and fraternal twins

Identical - monozygotic (one zygote) -- twins formed when a
single fertilized egg splits into two genetically identical parts. The
twins share the same DNA set, thus they may share many similar
attributes. However, since physical appearance is influenced by
environmental factors and not just genetics, identical twins can
actually look very different. Identical twins are always same-sex
sets.

There is also such a thing as “Half-Identical” twins which is not to

be confused with “fraternal” twins. Half-Identical twins occur
when and unfertilized egg splits and then the two eggs are
fertilized by two separate sperm. The fetuses share about half of
their genetic code, which they receive from their mother.

Fraternal - or dizygotic (two zygotes) -- twins develop when two

separate eggs are fertilized and implant in the uterus. The genetic
connection is no more or less the same as siblings born at separate
times. They may look alike, or they may not.

Scientists have theorized a third, hybrid type called polar body

twinning, that occurs when an unfertilized egg splits into two parts
and each part is fertilized by a different sperm. The twins would
then share one-half of their gene set (from their mother). Because it
is the father's DNA that determines the sex, the twins can be either
same-sex or male/female.

Definition of monozygotic or identical twins: A type of

twins derived from a single (mono) egg (zygote). Monozygotic
twins form when a single fertilized egg splits into two embryos.
Because the twins share the same DNA set, they tend to have
similar features. (see figure 4)
Definitionof dizygotic or Fraternal Twins : Derived from a
two (di) eggs (zygote). Dizygotic twins form when two separate
eggs are fertilized by separate sperm. (see figure 1)

The differences between the monozygotic, dizygotic and the polar

body twins are given in the table below:
Monozygotic Twins Dizygotic Twins Polar Body Twins
Occur when a single
Form when a single Form when two eggs unfertilzed egg splits
fertilized egg splits are fertilized by two into two and is
into two. separate sperm. fertilized by separate
sperm.
Sometimes referred to
Also called identical. Also called fraternal. as hybrid or half-
identical twinning.
It is not known what
Only one-third of all Two-thirds of twins percentage of twins
twins are identical. are fraternal. falls in this third
category.
Can be hereditary on
the mother's side. The
Don't "run in
tendency to hyper
families" except by
ovulate (release more
coincidence. No
than one egg in a Not known.
hereditary influence
cycle) is a genetic
for identical twinning
trait that can be
has been identified.
passed from mother
to daughter.
May have one shared
May have two May have two separate
placenta, two separate
separate placentas or placentas or two
placentas, or two
two placentas fused placentas fused into
placentas fused into
into one. one
one.
Share 100% of their Share about 50% of Share about 75% of
genetic markers. their genetic markers, their genetic markers,
same as singleton more than fraternals
 siblings. but less than identicals.
May be same sex or May be same sex or
Are always same sex.
male/female. male/female.
May have the same
Have the same blood May have the same
blood type or
type. blood type or different.
different.
Not caused by Can be attributed to
fertility treatments, fertility treatments,
No one knows what
birth control pills or advanced maternal
causes this type of
maternal age. No one age, birth control pills
twinning to occur.
knows what causes or other factors that
identical twinning. influence twinning.
May be contained in Develop separate sacs Develop separate sacs
one sac in utero. in utero. in utero.
Can result in
conjoined twins or Not conjoined. Not conjoined.
mirror image twins.
May be at risk for
Twin-to-Twin Rarely at risk for Rarely at risk for
Transfusion TTTS. TTTS.
Syndrome (TTTS)

The following pictures and text explain the difference between

identical and non-identical twins.
Identical Twins (also known as Uniovular
or Monozygotic twins).

During the fertilization process, only one

ovum is impregnated by only one
spermatozoid, but the egg divides in 2
embryos afterwards. They have exactly the
same chromosomes, they have a perfect
resemblance and they have the same sex.

There are 3 different ways that identical

twins can develop and be carried:

• With the first case there is only one

placenta that feeds the babies, but
there can be two amniotic sacs (as in
the diagram at the side). When there
is 1 placenta and 2 amniotic sacs then
the pregnancy is referred to as having
a "mono-chorial" placenta and is "bi-
amniotic".
• In the second scenario, there is only
one amniotic sac. In the case of 1
placenta and 1 amniotic sac then the
pregnancy is referred to as having a
"mono-chorial" placenta and is
"mono-amniotic".

• The third scenario is where there are

two placentae and each embryo has its
own amniotic pocket. When there are
two placentas and two amniotic
 pockets like this, then one speaks of a
"bi-chorial" pregnancy that is "bi-
amniotic". (This last case is an
identical situation to fraternal twins as
shown below).

Non-Identical Twins (also known as

Fraternal, Binovular or Dyzygotic twins).

When twins are non-identical, then two

seperate eggs have been impregnated by 2
separate spermatozoa.

They each have a different chromosome

make-up, they don't look alike and they can
be either the same or different sex. In fact,
this is simply two separate pregnancies that
just happened to occur at the same time.

Each embryo is in its own amniotic sac and

has its own placenta. This type of
pregnancy is referred to as "bi-chorial" and
"bi-amniotic".

The following pictures and text explain the different ways that
cellular division can occur in twins.
 Scenario 1: Scenario 2: Scenario 3: Scenario 4:
Identical Identical Identical Fraternal twins
twins twins twins

Dyzygotic twin
Monozygotic Monozygotic Monozygotic pregnancy
twin twin twin
pregnancy pregnancy pregnancy Bi-chorial and
bi-amniotic.
Bi-chorial and Mono-chorial Mono-chorial
bi-amniotic. and bi- & mono-
amniotic. amniotic.

What's happening in each scenario?

The Monozygotic twins are derived from only one egg and only
one fertilization.
Scenario 1: If the separation takes place just after the first
cellular division, then in this case both of the twins will have
their own placenta and an amniotic sac each.

Scenario 2: The separation can also take place a little later in

the development of the embryonic cells but before the
blastocyte has fully defined the roles of each type of cell. At
that moment, twins will be in the same placenta, but they will
have 2 amniotic sacs.

Scenario 3: In the last of the identical twin scenarios, if the

separation takes place at the stage when the amniotic bag is
already being formed, then the twins will be in the same
placenta, and in the same amniotic sac.

Scenario 4: Dyzygotic twins (fraternal twins), as shown in the

diagram, are descended from a double ovulation and a double
fertilization. The 2 eggs are completely independent. This
configuration represents two thirds of all twin pregnancies.

Scenario 1 and Scenario 4 clearly have the same configuration

at implantation into the uterus wall (bi-chorial and bi-
amniotic) yet they are very different in that when the twins
derive from one egg (monozygotic) they will be identical and
the twins coming from two separate eggs will be fraternal.

Conjoined twins
History of conjoined twins
One of the earliest documented cases of conjoined twins are Mary
and Eliza Chulkhurst, also known as the Biddenden Maids. Born in
1100, the sisters lived for 34 years in Biddenden, County of Kent,
and England. Mary and Eliza, though often depicted as joined at
the hip and shoulders, were likely pygopagus twins who were
joined at the buttocks and lower backs.
Then there were the famous Siamese twins with whose name are
the conjoined twins called these days. Chang and Eng Bunker, the
famous conjoined twins from Siam who earned their living in the
U.S. as a circus attraction in the Barnum and Baily Circus.

What are conjoined twins?

The phrase 'Conjoined Twins' is the appropriate given name for
twins that are physically conjoined.

How are they formed?

Siamese or conjoined twins are the result of a rare embryological

accident. The developing embryo begins to split into identical
twins but then stops part way leaving the partially separated egg to
mature into a fetus. Most conjoined twins are stillborn, and those
that survive often die within a few hours. The frequency of the
birth of conjoined twins is difficult to estimate, but perhaps 5% of
monozygotic (identical twin) twinning fail to separate completely
and are conjoined. "According to Dr. Alan Guttmacher, noted
physician and monozygotic twin, conjoined pairs are rarities which
occur only once in 50,000 to 80,000 births." There is a great range
in the degree of fusion, and depending upon which organs are
shared, some twins have undergone separation surgery where both
have survived. Points of juncture can be entire torsos, the top or
side of the cranium, hips, rear ends, and chests.

Conjoined twins are usually classified by the point at which they

are joined (the Greek word pagos , means "that which is fixed.")
Hence, the suffix-pagus is used meaning fastened.There have been
as many as three dozen separate types identified in the last century.
The following basic classifications can be combined to more
closely define individual cases.

Types:
1. cephalopagus
2. craniopagus
3. craniothoracopagus
4. dicephalus
5. ischopagus
6. omphalopagus
7. parapagus
8. pygopagus
9. thoracopagus
Anterior union of the upper half of the body with two faces on
opposite sides of a conjoined head. Extremely rare. The heart is
sometimes involved.
Cranial union only, about 2% of all conjoined twins.
Union of head and chest. There is only one brain, and the hearts
and gastrointestinal tracts are fused. This type of union is also
known as epholothoracopagus.
This refers to one body with two heads.
Anterior union of the lower half of the body, about 6% of all
conjoined twins. Heart not involved.
Anterior union of the lower half of the body, about 6% of all
conjoined twins. The heart is not involved.
Lateral union of the lower half, extending variable distances
upward, about 5% of all conjoined twins. Heart sometimes
involved. This type is also known as Diprosopus.
Posterior union of the rump, about 19% of all conjoined twins.
These conjunctions always involve the umbilicus. This type of
union is also known as Illeopagus.

Anterior union of the upper half of the trunk. The most common
form of conjoined twins (about 35%), it always involves sharing
the heart.
Parasitic twins:
Asymmetrical conjoined twins, one twin being small, less formed,
and dependent upon the other.

Fetus in fetu:
Situation in which an imperfect fetus is contained completely
within the body of its sibling

Specimens of rare twins:

This fetus is a poorly formed blob attached to a complete fetus.
There is no heart or brain in the "blob" twin. This is an acardiac
twin that consists mainly of lower extremities.
This fetus is a more complete acardiac twin in which actual body
regions are present. Nonetheless, it is non-viable.
She has a partially developed acardiac twin in which actual body
regions are present. Nonetheless, it is non-viable.
He is a partially developed twin in which the upper body parts are
present. Even though he is not a conjoined twin or identical twin,
he shows us that it is possible for a partially developed twin to
survive if all the vital organs are present.

Recent achievements of science

The conjoined twins being successfully separated:
 Bibliography

Websites
 • www.google.com
• www.unu.edu
• www.healthseva.com
• www.otal.com
• www.rediff.com
Books

Newspaper

• The times of india