here's another identical twin Q

tootlebug · December 2011

...probably a dumb one...i havent read much about ID twins as mine are fraternal.

but is it a misconception that all ID twins will actually look identical? i thought, and maybe im wrong, that i had read somewhere that they dont always look just like each other?

macchiatto · December 2011

There can be differences based on factors in utero as well as things like MrsLee mentioned. E.g. I've known of ID twins in which one had curly hair and one had straight, one's face might be wider than the other, etc.

pea-kay · December 2011

i don't think any identical twins look EXACTLY alike. head shapes, cowlicks, birthmarks, and other things can make them look quite different. (those aren't necessarily genetic.)

L D · December 2011

Mine are ID but have different face shapes. Kennedy's is slightly longer where as Kaydances is round. They look very different in their school pictures because ken opens her eyes wider when she smiles. Kays are normal. Bit that may have been just that picture. Sometimes I have to double check who is who I'm pictures of they aren't a close up.

natb22 · December 2011

While I think my ID twins look alike, I certainly do not think they look identical! They have different noses, different head shapes, foreheads, etc. Not a dumb question!

reillyroowho · December 2011

So, there are two factors that make ID twins look different. One is environmental and the other is the very slight mutations that occur in the mitochondrial DNA. Some IDs will inherit different MDNA from their moms. I majored in genetics (evolutionary biology) and mitochondrial DNA is by far the most fascinating! I would definitely recommend you all do some reading up on mitochondrial DNA because it gives so much insight in to IDs!

macchiatto · December 2011

reillyroowho:
So, there are two factors that make ID twins look different. One is environmental and the other is the very slight mutations that occur in the mitochondrial DNA. Some IDs will inherit different MDNA from their moms. I majored in genetics (evolutionary biology) and mitochondrial DNA is by far the most fascinating! I would definitely recommend you all do some reading up on mitochondrial DNA because it gives so much insight in to IDs!

Very cool!

kelliwill · December 2011

Not a dumb question. Mine are ID and yet they don't always look alike. And people have told us this, as if that means they are not ID! People are funny. Grace had IUGR and stopped growing around 30 weeks and was smaller at birth and has always been. Her face is smaller and thinner. Ava's face is rounder and she has a dimple that I think Grace would have if she had grown more inside, but who knows. They are different for sure but they also have a lot of things alike.

mmbench · December 2011

Mine are ID - and their faces are different shapes. Also have different moles, etc.

erinruns · December 2011

Yes, it is a misconception. My girls are identical and look nothing alike due to in utero conditions. There is a difference in height, weight, body and face shape.