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Q: Conjoined twins and DNA ( Answered 5 out of 5 stars,   0 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Conjoined twins and DNA
Category: Health
Asked by: laser1-ga
List Price: $15.00
Posted: 06 Feb 2003 16:09 PST
Expires: 08 Mar 2003 16:09 PST
Question ID: 158243
Do conjoined twins have identical DNA?
Answer  
Subject: Re: Conjoined twins and DNA
Answered By: websearcher-ga on 06 Feb 2003 16:34 PST
Rated:5 out of 5 stars
 
Hi laser1:

The short answer: 

Yes, conjoined twins have identical DNA. 

The longer answer:

Conjoined twins can only occur when monozygotic ("one egg" or
identical) twins occur. The conjoined part happens when the single
fertilized egg splits too late and fail to separate completely.

Since all identical twins have identical DNA, so do conjoined twins.
However, although their genetic material is the same,
identical/conjoined twins have different phenotypes - this means that
their DNA is expressed in different ways.


Sources: 

Twins - According to Anna Garvey
http://www.loyno.edu/~dorn/GSinterviews/twins.htm

Conjoined Twins
http://www.conjoined-twins.i-p.com/

Identical Twins
http://www3.cgodin.qc.ca/F.Prairie-Caron/Biological.htm

Do identical twins have identical DNA? 
http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20010213.html

Identical twins have the same DNA
http://www.wonderquest.com/twins-dna.htm


I hope that this information has been of help in your search.
              
If you need any clarification of the information I have provided,
please ask using the Clarification feature and provide me with
additional details as to what you are looking for. As well, please
allow me to provide you with clarification(s) *before* you rate this
answer.
                   
Thank you.                    
                   
websearcher-ga                   
                   
                 
Search Strategy (on Google):            
  
"conjoined twins" "same DNA"
"identical twins" dna
laser1-ga rated this answer:5 out of 5 stars
Thank you sooo much. I appreciated the in depth response and the
helpful links as well!

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