• Question: why are twins identical.

    Asked by adamrussell to Fiona, Joanna, William on 24 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Joanna Brooks

      Joanna Brooks answered on 24 Jun 2010:

      Hello again! Twins can be identical because they develop from the same egg from the mother – this one egg splits into two embryos which develop into two different babies. But non-identical twins come from two eggs from the mother (one embryo for each egg). Because identical twins come from just one egg they share a huge part of their genetic code which is what makes them look the same.

    • Photo: Fiona Randall

      Fiona Randall answered on 24 Jun 2010:

      Twins are identical as the embryo divides into 2 very early in the pregnancy so that each baby is from exactly the same original embryo and they have exactly the same genes. Non-identical twins come from separate embryos and occur when the ovaries release 2 eggs at the same time (when normally only one is released).

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