Identical and Fraternal

There are different types of twins. There are mirror twins, identical twins, fraternal twins, and conjoined twins. But on this page we will tell you only about fraternal and identical twins. You probably know the basics that identical twins look alike and fraternal twins look different. But there are MANY, MANY more facts...

Identical twins have the same DNA or genotype (the same internal code that cells use to make a living being).  But they have different phenotypes (visual characteristics and fingerprints). The only way to tell identical twins apart is through a fingerprint test, not a DNA test. The results of a DNA test would be the same for both identical twins.  However, parents can often tell them apart physically and a fingerprint test would show which twin is which. Identical twins also are VERY close to having the same brainwaves. The chance of being an identical twin is 1 in 250. Something you might REALLY want to know is that a study shows identical twins have a greater chance of exercising and not smoking. They also have a better chance of living longer if they stay close together like peanut butter and jelly.

Fraternal twins only share 50% of the same DNA and are pretty much like normal siblings (people who are not twins) except they were born around the same time. They also do not look alike like identical twins. There is usually a 2 out of 3 chance that twins are fraternal. Fraternal twins usually have the opposite gender. One might be a girl and one might be a boy. Some can look very similar, but really are not identical, they are FRATERNAL!!