What are Conjoined Twins?
Conjoined twins are twins, almost always identical, who are connected through skin, organs or other parts of the body. Conjoined twins are frequently inaccurately referred to as Siamese twins, probably in part due to Chang and Eng Bunker, twins born in Siam who traveled with P.T. Barnum’s Circus during the 19th century. The term, “Siamese twins,” is inaccurate since conjoining occurs throughout the world at a rate of about 1 in 400,000 live births. In most cases, on the thirteenth day after a pregnancy begins, twins separate into their own egg sacks, and each twin creates a placenta. When conjoined twins occur, this separation has failed to take place, and researchers are mystified as to the cause. They suggest contributory facts may be environmental or genetic. Classification of conjoined twins rests on the way in which the twins are joined, and this joining exhibits a great deal of variation. Survival and ability to separate the twins depends upon the type of conjoining. While some c
Conjoined twins are identical twins that have not split properly after fertilization. Identical (or monozygotic) twins are created from a single fertilized egg. This egg usually separates a few days after fertilization, creating two separate embryos. However, if this egg does not separate within 12 days of separation, it will not split completely. Instead of creating two separate embryos, the two embryos will remain attached in certain areas, causing the babies to grow into one another. The History of Conjoined Twins Unfortunately, the history of conjoined twin babies is a sad one. Sometimes referred to as Siamese twins, conjoined twins were often treated as outcasts by society. Unable to get work or support, many conjoined twins were forced to join traveling circuses in order to make a living. The most famous conjoined twins were Eng and Chang Bunker, who were born in Thailand (then called Siam) and worked for Barnum and Bailey’s circus and sideshows. Thankfully, science has allowed f
There are 2 kinds of twins: — Fraternal Twins and — Identical Twins — Fraternal Twins come from two separate eggs (dizygotic). — Identical Twins come from the same single egg (monozygotic), the developing embryo divides into two. — Identical Twins look very much like each other — Fraternal Twins are as similar to each other as normal siblings are. (Monozygotic = They result from the fertilization of one egg by one sperm. Dizygotic = They are the result of two eggs that are fertilized by two sperm) — Fraternal Twins can be the same sex or different sexes. — Identical Twins are the same gender. Conjoined Twins are Identical Twins, but when the embryo starts to split, on the 13th day after conception, it does not do so completely – parts of the two stay stuck together. The two embryos mature into two fetuses that have parts of their bodies stuck to each other. For some reason, more conjoined twins are girls than boys. For every pair of male conjoined twins born, three pairs of fem
