While
men can carry the gene and pass it on to their daughters
, a family history of twins doesn't make them any more likely to have twins themselves. 3 But, if a father passes on the “twin gene” to his daughter, then she may have a higher chance than normal of having fraternal twins.
Which parent carries the gene for twins?
This is why fraternal twins run in families. However, only women ovulate. So,
the mother's genes control this
and the fathers don't. This is why having a background of twins in the family matters only if it is on the mother's side.
Do twins come from Mom or Dad?
For a given pregnancy, the odds of conceiving fraternal twins are only determined by the mother's genetics,
not the father's
. Fraternal twins happen when two eggs are simultaneously fertilised instead of just one.
How is the twin gene passed down?
When both eggs are fertilized
, the resulting siblings are fraternal twins. Because this gene can be passed on, the tendency to have fraternal twins can in fact run in families. Identical twins, on the other hand, result from one fertilized egg randomly splitting in two, creating two siblings with identical DNA.
How do twins run in the family?
Non-identical (fraternal) twins tend to run in families. But identical twins don't. Non-identical twins are the result of
two separate eggs being fertilised by two separate sperm
. There is a gene that makes a woman more likely to release two or more eggs during ovulation, and it's this gene that runs in families.
Can you have twins if they don't run in the family?
Everyone has the same chance of having identical twins: about 1 in 250.
Identical twins do not run in families
. But there are some factors that make having non-identical twins more likely: non-identical twins are more common in some ethnic groups, with the highest rate among Nigerians and the lowest among Japanese.
Who is more likely to have twins?
According to the Office on Women's Health,
women who are aged 30 years or older
are more likely to conceive twins. The reason for this is that women of this age are more likely than younger women to release more than one egg during their reproductive cycle.
How soon can twins be detected?
Are you wondering if you may be carrying more than just one baby? Many women say they could sense early on that they were carrying multiples. The only sure way to find out if you're pregnant with twins is at your first ultrasound appointment at
around 10 weeks
.
Can I have twins if my mother is a twin?
If a woman's mother has fraternal twins,
she is about 2 times more likely to have twins
. This is why we often say the “risk” for having twins comes from the mother. It doesn't matter if the dad also has fraternal twins in his family – his DNA won't influence how many eggs the mom releases!
Are you more likely to have twins if you are a twin?
Your
chances of having fraternal twins may be higher if you're a fraternal twin yourself
or if fraternal twins run in your family. One reason for this may be hyperovulation, which is a situation where the body releases two or more eggs during ovulation — basically a requirement for having fraternal twins.
What causes twin pregnancy?
Multiple pregnancy usually happens when more than one egg is fertilized. It also can happen when one egg is fertilized and then splits into 2 or more embryos that grow into 2 or more babies.
When one fertilized egg splits into 2
, the babies are called identical twins.
What are the 7 types of twins?
- Conjoined Twins. …
- Superfetation. …
- Heteropaternal Superfecundation. …
- Polar Body Twins. …
- Monozygotic Twins. …
- Mirror-Image Twins. …
- Parasitic Twins. …
- Semi-Identical Twins.
Will you have twins test?
Genetic tests
once your twins are born
After you give birth to your little ones, you may wish to get a genetic test to show whether your twins are identical or fraternal. You may already have a good idea of the answer, but a DNA test will tell you for sure.
Could I be pregnant with twins again?
History of twins: Once you have a set of fraternal twins,
you're twice as likely to have another set in future pregnancies
. Number of pregnancies: The more pregnancies you've had, the greater your chances of having twins.
Do twins have the same fingerprints?
According to the Washington State Twin Registry, identical twins may share similar characteristics of their fingerprints, including the loops and ridges. … In fact, the National Forensic Science Technology Center states that, “
no two people have ever been found to have the same fingerprints
— including identical twins.”
Can you deliver twins naturally?
About one third of all twins are born vaginally
and the process is similar to that of giving birth to a single baby. If you're planning a vaginal delivery, it's usually recommended that you have an epidural for pain relief.
