Written by Dr Andrew Hoy and Ashlee Tenberge, published in The Conversation
7 November 2012
Are they twins? Are they identical? Are they natural? Which one is older? These are some of the all-too-familiar, somewhat invasive and highly personal questions posed by well-intentioned strangers to parents with multiples the world over.
Written by Jenny Boadle from the Twins Research Australia and published in the AMBA Magazine
October 2017
It is often the similarities of twins that draw attention and interest from people. But for health and medical experts it is the differences between twins in a pair that are the most fascinating. This is because they offer important clues about how our genes and environment contribute to our health and wellbeing.
Written by Assoc Prof Mark Umstad, AMBA Patron, and published in the AMBA Magazine
October 2017
For a century, it has been thought that dizygotic twins result from the fertilisation of two separate eggs by two separate sperm, and monozygotic twins form when a single egg is fertilised by a single sperm then subsequently divides to form two embryos.
Written by the Australian Twin Registry and published in the AMBA Magazine
September 2015
A recent study found that nearly a third of twins were incorrect when asked to identify if they were identical or not. Why does it matter and how can you find out for sure? “Are they identical or not?” is usually the first question asked of new parents about their twins. While it may be a matter of curiosity for most parents, for others it has become lifesaving knowledge.
Written by the Australian Twin Registry and published in the AMBA Magazine
September 2015
Leading American twin researcher and author Dr Nancy L. Segal visited Australia as a guest of the Australian Twin Registry. She explains how she came to devote her life to studying twins, especially twins raised apart, and some of her latest findings.
Written by Carissa Mason, with input from Shaie O’Brien, Australian Twin Registry
New South Wales mum Caromy McLean was still breastfeeding her first set of twins when she found out she was pregnant with a second set. “I had four in nappies for a year”, Caromy says.
Written by Assoc Prof Mark Umstad - AMBA Patron, Obstetrician, Gynaecologist
The risk of premature delivery in multiple pregnancies is high. Approximately 5% of twins and 12% of triplets will deliver before 28 weeks gestation.
Written by Assoc Prof Mark Umstad, Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, and AMBA Patron
Classic twin studies compare similarities between monozygotic (identical) and dizygotic (fraternal) twins. For any condition in which monozygotic twins are more similar than dizygotic twins, there is an implication that there is a more significant genetic than environmental influence. Because twins share many aspects of their environment including the uterus, parents, home and schooling, differences can be assessed in relation to how similar their genes are. In recent years, it has been recognised that there is more to this “nature versus nurture” concept. This is where epigenetics has developed.
Written by Assoc Prof Mark Umstad, AMBA Patron, and published in the AMBA Magazine
The rate of caesarean section has steadily increased in Australia over the past few decades. The caesarean section rate is now around 30% for singleton pregnancies, around 70% for twin pregnancies and virtually 100% for triplet and higher order multiple pregnancies.
