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Identical Twins Not Identical After All

Posted by samzenpus on from the one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "Contrary to previous beliefs, identical twins are not genetically identical. Researchers studied 19 pairs of monozygotic, or identical, twins and found differences in copy number variation in DNA which occurs when a set of coding letters in DNA are missing, or when extra copies of segments of DNA are produced. In most cases, variation in the number of copies likely has no impact on health or development but in others, it may be one factor in the likelihood of developing a disease (pdf). "Those differences may point the way to better understanding of genetic diseases when we study so-called discordant monozygotic twins....a pair of twins where one twin has a disorder and the other does not," says Carl Bruder, Ph.D. "If twin A develops Parkinson's and twin B does not, the region of their genome where they show differences is a target for further investigation to discover the basic genetic underpinnings of the disease.""

24 of 159 comments (clear)

  1. Identical twins are like Slashdot dupes by Daimanta · · Score: 4, Funny

    You think they are exactly the same, but they are always slighly different.

    --
    Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power lost.
    1. Re:Identical twins are like Slashdot dupes by s74ng3r · · Score: 4, Funny

      You think they are exactly the same, but they are always slightly different.

    2. Re:Identical twins are like Slashdot dupes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      You think they are exactly the same, but they are always slightly diffenert.

    3. Re:Identical twins are like Slashdot dupes by Thanshin · · Score: 3, Funny

      You think they are exactly the same, but they are always slightly diffenert. The reader concludes the similarities between both are absolute; however, by a negligible disparity, that is not so.
    4. Re:Identical twins are like Slashdot dupes by somersault · · Score: 4, Funny

      You think they are exactly the same, but they are always slyly different.

      --
      which is totally what she said
    5. Re:Identical twins are like Slashdot dupes by Zencyde · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yeah? Well, I read Slashdot for the articles.

      --
      What day is it? Could you please tell me?
    6. Re:Identical twins are like Slashdot dupes by cyphergirl · · Score: 2, Funny

      I seriously thought about modding this redundant, but decided not to burn my karma on people who wouldn't get the joke.

      (Dupes? Redundant? A Redundant Dupe? Ha Ha)

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      --Insert catchy .sig line here--
  2. Hell that makes it worse by MosesJones · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm sure we've all had that embarrassing occasion of going out with one twin, getting drunk and waking up with the other. It used to be okay to claim you were drunk and couldn't tell them apart, you'd still get a slap but not a knee in the groin... now they can be told apart using simple genetic testing there really is no excuse.

    In other news the part of the movie industry targeted with making crap movies aimed at teenage boys was shut down as plot lines had become "medically unsupportable".

    --
    An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
    1. Re:Hell that makes it worse by RuBLed · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'm sure we've all had...


      Dude, you're still drunk... this is /. by the way.
      Look behind you, that's your bed... and there are no twins...
    2. Re:Hell that makes it worse by cp.tar · · Score: 5, Funny

      Clearly this wholly explains all those evil twin plot lines.

      Yeah, I've always wondered why it is that the evil twin has a pointy beard.

      I'd never have thought that the cause was genetic.

      --
      Ignore this signature. By order.
    3. Re:Hell that makes it worse by menkhaura · · Score: 2, Funny

      You must be a HIT at parties!

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      Stupidity is an equal opportunity striker.
      Fellow slashdotter Bill Dog
  3. So.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    What gene difference made those twins so different (Danny de Vito and Arnold Schwarzenegger)

  4. News Flash! by Strange+Ranger · · Score: 3, Funny

    After the sperm penetrates the ovum, a zygote is formed. After which, chaos ensues.

    Growth and development of one copy != growth and development of the other.

    --

    Operator, give me the number for 911!
    1. Re:News Flash! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      well its not chaos...

      You clearly do not have a four-year-old. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go vacuum the bookshelf. Don't ask.

  5. Twins aren't Identical? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, duh.

  6. Amazing breakthough! by brit74 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm sure this will explain why the evil twin is evil. It's an amazing breakthrough in the field of soap opera science!

  7. *AHEM* by AlgorithMan · · Score: 5, Funny

    http://xkcd.com/263/
    ;-)

    --
    The MAFIAA is a bunch of mindless jerks who will be the first up against the wall when the revolution comes
  8. Re:Wonder how this affects... by XavidX · · Score: 3, Funny

    you mean eating your veggies does not make you grow big and strong?

  9. Re:Wonder how this affects... by somersault · · Score: 2, Funny

    Actually, scientists aren't (universally) that dumb. No, a scientist is smart. Scientists are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it.
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    which is totally what she said
  10. Re:That was known for quite a while by Spacezilla · · Score: 4, Funny

    My identical twin IS a chimp, you insensitive clod!

  11. Re:Wonder how this affects... by zappepcs · · Score: 2, Funny

    The rest comes from the fact that you'd want to fucking be different too if they called you a "discordant monozygotic twin"

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  12. Re:That was known for quite a while by Spacezilla · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, I mean... Ah, damnit, I walked right into that one, didn't I? :(

  13. Yeah, DNA is identical, but... by Mandovert · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...do MD5 match?

  14. Re:Mothers by ToxikFetus · · Score: 3, Funny

    Could this be why mothers can tell apart their twin offspring?
    I find that a few well-placed scars do the trick.

    Now excuse me while I meet with Child Services.