Twins

Definition

Twins refer to two individuals who are born from the same pregnancy. There are two types of twins: identical (monozygotic) twins, who share 100% of their genetic material, and fraternal (dizygotic) twins, who share approximately 50% of their genetic material.

Related terms

Genetic Heritability: The extent to which traits or characteristics can be attributed to genetics. It indicates how much variation in a trait is due to genetic differences among individuals.

Monozygotic Twins: Also known as identical twins, they develop from a single fertilized egg that splits into two embryos. They share the same genetic makeup.

Dizygotic Twins: Also known as fraternal twins, they result from two separate eggs being fertilized by different sperm cells. They share about half of their genes on average, like regular siblings.