Photo: Shenyi

Can twins have different dads?

But you may be left wondering: Can twins have different fathers? The answer is yes, but only in cases in which they're fraternal, as identical twins form from a single egg/sperm combination and thus cannot have different fathers.

verywellfamily.com - Is It Possible for Twins to Have Different Fathers? - Verywell Family

Can twins have different fathers?

In rare cases, fraternal twins can be born from two different fathers in a phenomenon called heteropaternal superfecundation. Although uncommon,...

Last updated Jan 21, 2019

What makes a man know you're the one?

One of the most important early signs he thinks you're the one is that he makes you a priority whenever he can. He rearranges his schedule whenever...

Last updated Oct 30, 2022

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

Twins occur when two babies are born to one mother after a single pregnancy. If they're identical (monozygotic), they formed when one zygote, created with just one egg and one sperm, splits into two new eggs, resulting in two embryos rather than one. Each embryo then develops into a separate fetus. Fraternal (dizygotic) twins, meanwhile, occur when two separate eggs are fertilized by two separate sperm. Fraternal twins share only 50% of the same genes, whereas identical twins share 100%, which explains why fraternal twins usually don't look nearly as alike as identical ones do. Unless a set of twins' birth mother served as a surrogate or used donor eggs, there would be no question that she's the mother of both twins. But you may be left wondering: Can twins have different fathers? The answer is yes, but only in cases in which they're fraternal, as identical twins form from a single egg/sperm combination and thus cannot have different fathers.

Twins With Different Fathers

As technology has improved the accuracy and accessibility of genetic testing, people have been able to receive genetic testing to determine when fraternal twins have two different fathers. Fraternal twins are the result of hyperovulation, the release of multiple eggs in a single cycle. Superfecundation describes a situation in which each of the eggs are fertilized by sperm from different men, leading them to have different biological fathers (making the twins half-siblings). The appropriate term to describe this situation is heteropaternal superfecundation. There is little research on the prevalence of heteropaternal superfecundation in the general population, but some researchers found that in a parentage test database of 39,000 records, 2.4% of dizygotic twins whose parents were involved in paternity suits were a result of heteropaternal superfecundation. Some researchers believe that the frequency of heteropaternal superfecundation, which is widely assumed to be very rare, is underestimated in the general population.

Examples of Heteropaternal Superfecundation

How to be a millionaire fast?

6 Steps to Become a Millionaire by 30 Start Saving Early. The easiest way to build your savings is to start early. ... Avoid Unnecessary Spending...

Last updated Jan 8, 2019

What does black mold smell like?

It's often described as musty and earthy, and may even smell like rotting vegetables or plants. You might notice a musty smell, but not be able to...

Last updated Jul 13, 2021

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

One way heteropaternal superfecundation could occur is if a woman has sexual intercourse with two different men within the same timeframe that both embryos are conceived. For example, in New Jersey, a mother of twins underwent paternity testing when applying for public assistance. After the test showed that her partner was only the father of one of her twins, she admitted that she had had sex with another man within the same week that her twins were conceived. Similarly, a mother of twins in Texas acknowledged that she was having an affair with another man when her twins were conceived. Paternity testing revealed that her fiancee was indeed the father of one of the twin boys, but that another man was the biological father of the other twin. While we might assume all instances of twins with different fathers are the result of the mother having sexual intercourse with different partners, this isn't the only scenario in which it could happen. This situation can also occur when twins are the result of fertility treatments. For example, in a mixup at a lab, equipment had been used twice, causing another man’s sperm to be mixed with that of the intended father resulting in Dutch twin boys conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) with different fathers.

How Paternity Testing Is Performed

Paternity testing can be performed either before or after twins are born. Post-natal paternity testing can be done by collecting and testing blood from the baby's umbilical cord at birth (a blood test performed at a lab) or a buccal (cheek) swab taken either at a lab or at home and then later sent to a lab. The presumed mother and father's DNA is usually obtained this way as well. Prenatal paternity testing is a bit more complicated, however, and can be more invasive depending on which method is performed.

Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity (NIPP)

What is the rarest eye color?

Green is considered by some to be the actual rarest eye color in the world, though others would say it's been dethroned by red, violet, and grey...

Last updated Feb 27, 2018

How do I get rid of ground squirrels permanently?

Habitat modification can be an effective control method for ground squirrels. Removing prunings, rock, and wood piles that ground squirrels use as...

Last updated May 31, 2020

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

This test involves collecting blood from both the mother and the presumed father, which is then tested after preserving and analyzing the baby's DNA found in the mother's bloodstream. It can be performed any time after eight weeks of pregnancy and is 99.9% accurate.

Amniocentesis

Amniocentesis involves a doctor using ultrasound technology while inserting a thin needle into your uterus through your abdomen to draw amniotic fluid for genetic testing (most often used for prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities and other medical conditions in the fetus). This test can be performed in the second trimester and carries a small risk of harm to the baby and causing miscarriage.

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is also often used to check for chromosomal disorders. It involves a doctor inserting a thin needle or tube guided by ultrasound from the vagina and through the cervix to obtain chorionic villi, or small pieces of tissue attached to the uterine wall. The fetus and this tissue come from the same fertilized egg and have the same genetic makeup, thus allowing it to be used for paternity testing against the alleged parents' DNA. CVS can be performed earlier in a pregnancy, from weeks 10 to 13. As with amniocentesis, CVS poses a small risk of miscarriage, as well as cramping, bleeding, and uterine infection.

A Word From Verywell

Because all forms of paternity testing will involve collecting DNA from both parents, there may be an awkward conversation at some point in your pregnancy or after the birth of your twins if there is any doubt over paternity. By researching your options and preparing yourself for the procedures and results, you can make the process a bit less stressful. As always, talk to your doctor about any concerns regarding your pregnancy and any associated procedures.

verywellfamily.com - Is It Possible for Twins to Have Different Fathers? - Verywell Family

What is meant by holistic abundance?

What is your Holistic Abundance definition? Holistic Abundance for me is the life I live on my conditions while I am fulfilling my life missions...

Last updated Mar 5, 2018

Which zodiac is master mind?

Aquarius has all the makings of a mastermind. They love inventing things, planning, and coming up with ways to improve the world. Aug 16, 2019

Last updated Feb 3, 2022

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

Do millionaires buy houses cash?

Some wealthy people could easily buy houses outright without borrowing. Rich people often still take out home loans anyway even though they could...

Last updated May 19, 2022

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

What rich people love to do?

However, there are certain pastimes that so many tycoons and magnates have take up that they are now considered 'rich hobbies'. Skiing. Skiing is a...

Last updated Jun 17, 2021