Most of what the majority knows is complete myth. The most common two myths are that, like most genes, twins are passed down through genetics. The second myth is that twins skip generations. As exciting as that would be, it just isn’t the case. The truth is, it depends almost entirely on what type of twin you are. While the differences between fraternal twins and identical twins are most usually noticeable, the biggest difference is how these twins became who they are.
Fraternal twins occur when 2 eggs are released during ovulation and then fertilized by 2 sperm. This act of releasing multiple eggs during ovulation is known as hyper-ovulation. When people think about twins passing through genetics, this is what they are actually referring to. Hyper-ovulation is also only passed through maternal genetics. This means if you have fraternal twins in your maternal line at all, there is a higher chance of you having fraternal twins, or hyper-ovulation. However if your father was a fraternal twin, he could pass the gene of hyper-ovulation onto his daughter.
Identical twins are a completely different story. Identical twins, or monozygotic twinning, are the spontaneous splitting of an already fertilized egg. This random occurrence creates two identical babies. As popular as the genealogy of twins is, the mystery behind twins is still being constantly researched. While many speculate on how the random occurrence happens, a popular theory is that there is a certain enzyme in some sperm that causes the splitting of a fertilized egg, or monozygotic twinning.
Twins: One Black, One White, A Lesson In Genetics was originally published on blackdoctor.org
