Q:
What is the difference between paternal and maternal twins?
A:
Quick Answer
Paternal and maternal twins, commonly known as fraternal and identical twins, are distinguished by the different ways the multiple pregnancy begins. Identical twins begin as a single zygote that splits into two or more developing embryos. Fraternal twins are usually the result of multiple eggs being present for fertilization.
Continue Reading
Credit:
Vladimir Pustovit
CC-BY 2.0
Full Answer
Because of their common origin, identical twins share a genome and are genetically indistinguishable. Despite this underlying similarity, superficial features such as fingerprints still vary between them. Fraternal twins, arising from separate zygotes with their own unique complement of genes, do not share a genome and are no more closely related to each other than any other siblings.
Learn more about BiologySources:
Related Questions
-
Q:
Can a boy and a girl be identical twins?
A: Rarely, a boy and girl may be identical twins. This condition, called Turner Syndrome, afflicts very few pairs of twins. The gender difference occurs when ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What causes Siamese twins?
A: The exact cause of Siamese twins, more accurately known as conjoined twins, is not entirely known. Since the prevalence of conjoined twins is thought to be... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is artificial embryo twinning?
A: Artificial embryo twinning is a method of making clones that mimics the natural process of creating identical twins, according to the Genetic Science Learn... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What are dizygotic twins?
A: Dizygotic twins, also known as heterologous or fraternal twins, develop when two separate eggs are fertilized at the same time within the uterus. Dizygotic... Full Answer >Filed Under:
