DNA testing kit for twins – identical or not

DNA testing kit for twins – identical or not

DNA testing kit for twins is used to determine whether multiple children from the same birth (twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc.) are genetically identical or not. If siblings are identical, they are known as monozygotic. This means that they were formed from a single fertilized egg, which went on to split into separate embryos, and therefore their DNA is exactly the same.

Non-identical twins

While non-identical siblings from the same birth are known as dizygotic (i.e., having two zygotes), triplets are trizygotic (three zygotes), quadruplets are quadzygotic (four zygotes), and polyzygotic is the umbrella term for multiple zygotes. As these are siblings, this means that they are the result of separate fertilized eggs and they share DNA in common (just as in the case of siblings from different births).

Why would you need a twin DNA test kit?

Siblings that are of different sexes are non-identical while twins of the same sex can start to have different physical features as they grow. However, growth patterns such as hair and eye colour, ear shape, teeth formation, and hand and feet appearance can indicate whether or not the children are identical. By around 2 years old, their zygosity may be quite clear from their physical features. You can find out about other sibling’s DNA tests HERE

Reasons why zygosity twin determination would be required:

• It may have been unclear in utero as identical twins don’t always share the same placenta and sac: it all depends on when the egg splits
• Parents often want to know this information, and sometimes the twins themselves like to know when they’re older
• Another key point is that it can help reinforce the need to treat the siblings as individuals
• Not only can help assess the likelihood of conceiving twins again but also there is an increased risk for women who have had non-identical twins
• Some illnesses may affect monozygotic children, as a result, you would know whether both/all children need testing for a particular condition
• Additionally, you may need this information to participate in any research about multiple births