Mysterious Multiples: Understanding the Basics

Why are twins and other multiples so fascinating to the general public? Is it because no one quite knows why a multiple pregnancy occurs? Or is it because of the bond that most twins share? Is it because they seem to speak a special language? Or because of the striking similarities that exist, even when twins are raised apart? Or are we intrigued because the presence of multiples, especially identical twins, undermines our concept of uniqueness and individuality? I believe we are intrigued for all of these reasons, and many more. The reunions of twins which are featured regularly on television and in newspapers, have sparked many of us to ask, "Do I have a twin out there somewhere?"

The mystery of twining has fascinated people throughout history, and each civilization has viewed the phenomenon in their own way. While some cultures see twins as bad luck others revere them as rare and special. This may sound primitive to modern Americans, but who hasn't seen a television talk show dedicated to twins and multiples? While we don't view twins as evil omens, we do think of them as unique and special.

The information we do have about twins has emerged because of innumerable studies-some primitive, some barbaric, some professional and scientific-conducted by scientists, psychologists and other researchers. Unfortunately, many early studies led to torture, gross experimentation, and even death. Josef Mengele, a German with a medical degree and a PhD in anthropology, became obsessed with studying twins. During World War II, he made the Auschwitz death camp his laboratory. He housed all twins in a separate unit from the rest of the prisoners, and proceeded with his "research." Adding to the monstrosities committed in the Nazi death camps, were Mengele's experiments in which he performed blood transfusions, administered chemical injections, sewed twins together, and sterilized and castrated many. Only 157 of the 3,000 twins Mengele tortured survived (Wright 20). Later tests became more humane, although some still involved separation of one twin or triplet from their twin.

Through tests and technology, scientists have discovered how twins and other multiples are formed. Identical, or monozygotic, twins result when a single, fertilized egg (zygote) divides between the first and fourteenth day of conception. Further splitting can create triplets, quadruplets, quintuplets and so on. Twinning seems to occur randomly, despite the claim that it may run through the mother's or father's line. Identical twins are the same sex and have the same genetic makeup. However, they may have very different personalities, talents, and traits. In the womb, they may share the same chorionic and amniotic sacs, although it is more common for them to have separate sacs and placentas. According to The Premature Baby Book, 1 in 90 pregnancies is a twin pregnancy, and 1/3 of twins born are identical (22 ). When the division of the fertilized egg occurs later than normal, it may produce conjoined twins (popularly known as Siamese twins).

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