Identical or fraternal???? - results are in

(Sorry I haven't posted in a while... we had some modem malfunctions for over a month!)

The #1 question we always get is "are they identical or fraternal?" Identical twins are monozygotic, meaning they come from one egg that splits after fertilization. Fraternal twins are dizygotic, meaning they come from two fertilized eggs.

We decided that since they each had their own amniotic sac and possibly two merged placentas that the only sure way to know was a DNA test. We decided to use Affiliated Genetics in Utah because they can do it completely by mail with just cheek swabs. It was kinda fun doing it and the babies had plenty of drool to contribute.

The results are in and they are: IDENTICAL!!!! Even as different as they are, what we can't see is identical. I'll post new pics in a few days.

Here's the full report we got in the mail:



Results of Zygosity Determination
Using DNA Polymorphisms


Person requesting test: Dayton Kannon

Individuals tested: Shira Kannon and Miriam Kannon

Birth date: 07/18/2007

Address: -----

STR Marker Result

D3S1358 Concordant
THO1 Concordant
D21S11 Concordant
D18S51 Concordant
D5S818 Concordant
D13S317 Concordant
D7S820 Concordant
D16S539 Concordant
CSF1PO Concordant
Penta D Concordant
vWA Concordant
D81179 Concordant
TPOX Concordant
FGA Concordant

The twins are concordant for fourteen out of fourteen STR DNA markers. The twins are monozygotic (i.e. “identical twins”) with a greater than 99% probability.

Date: 11/27/07
Kenneth Ward, M.D.
Laboratory Director