7 unique facts about non-identical twins that surprise you

Twins do not have to have faces that always look like fraternal twins or are not identical. Moreover, twins can also be of different sexes, such as one female and a male twin. Do you know the facts about twins are not identical? Check out the explanation here!

What are the facts about non-identical twins?

During pregnancy, it is possible that you and your partner will get twins in the womb.

Of some types of twins, one of them is fraternal or non-identical twins.

Quoted from Pregnancy, Birth, & Baby fraternal or non-identical twins are formed from the fertilization of two eggs by two different sperm.

Therefore, the two fetuses in the womb also have different placenta, inner and outer membranes.

So, what are fraternal twins? Here are other explanations and facts you need to know about non-identical twins, such as:

1. It grows from different eggs and sperm

These fraternal twins or non-identical twins are different from identical twins.

This is because identical twins originate from the same egg and sperm (called monozygotic).

Whereas fraternal twins come from different eggs and sperm, which is known as a dizygotic condition.

Generally, during the fertile period or ovulation, women release one egg. Whether it's from the ovary (ovary) to the left or right.

However, in pregnant women who have non-identical or fraternal twins, not one but several eggs are released.

So, when the sperm enters, a different sperm swims to one of these eggs. Each egg finally fertilizes at the same time.

2. Derived from a different zygote

Fraternal or non-identical twins occur from different fertilization of the egg and sperm.

Therefore, they grow and develop from different zygotes. This makes mothers who have fraternal twins contain two zygote cells in the uterus.

It should be noted that the zygote is a cell resulting from the union of sperm and ovum which will become the embryo of the fetus in the uterus.

Coming from a different zigor, even non-identical twins will have different physical conditions later.

3. The gender can be different

Fraternal or non-identical twins can have the same sex to different genders.

The thing you need to pay attention to is that different sex twins are not the meaning of non-identical twins because they are only one type.

Different sex twins are very likely to occur in fraternal twins because the fertilization process comes from different eggs and sperm.

It can be said that non-identical twins can be both female, male, and male and female.

This sex is influenced by the chromosomes carried by the sperm. Sperm can carry either an X or a Y chromosome, while women carry only one type, the X.

In the case of fraternal twins, when one egg is fertilized by a sperm carrying a Y chromosome, a boy will be formed.

Another thing is when a sperm fertilizes the other egg by carrying an X chromosome, a daughter will be formed.

Therefore, fraternal twins can have different sexes, unlike children who are identical twins.

4. Physical differences and characteristics

Like siblings in general, non-identical or fraternal twins also have physical appearances that look very different.

This can be seen from the eye color, hair type, face shape, to different height. However, different traits can also be experienced by identical or non-identical twins.

It is possible that twins have only a few traits in common.

Then, it is also possible that non-identical twins have many traits in common even though they are physically different.

Therefore, the nature of twins is also unpredictable because environmental factors and experiences will also have an effect.

5. Chances of having fraternal twins are genetic

The biggest possibility of having multiple pregnancies is due to heredity.

However, did you know that fraternal or non-identical twins can also occur for the same reason?

It is known that fraternal twins occur due to the fertilization of two eggs at the same time.

This can also occur because women hyperovulate or release several eggs in each cycle.

Well, this hyperovulation is genetic or hereditary. Women who have the gene with this condition can pass it back on to their daughters.

6. Have two different placentas

In general, twins in the uterus are like identical twins living with the same placenta in the womb.

It is different with fraternal twins in the uterus because they each have a placenta which is known as dichorionic.

The placenta is an organ that functions to deliver oxygen and nutrients essential for the growth and development of the fetus in the womb.

This organ is also a barrier for germs or foreign substances from the mother to enter the baby's body.

It should be noted that because fraternal twins have different placentas, this pregnancy is not prone to the risks that often occur in identical twins.

For example, fetuses are fighting over food and ultimately nutritional intake is uneven.

Another thing that can happen is the possibility that the umbilical cord gets tangled easily, which can interfere with fetal development.