Which twin is usually taller?

There's no definitive rule for which twin is taller, but often the first-born twin is slightly taller in childhood, though this difference can diminish. However, environmental factors like nutrition, placental connection (affecting prenatal growth), activity levels, and even genetic mutations can cause significant height differences, sometimes making the younger twin taller, especially with C-section births where smaller babies might be delivered first, or if one twin had better nutrition or fewer health issues.

What is the average height of twins?

Overall, first born twins had an average height of 80.5 cm (standard deviation [SD] = 14.7) while the second born twin had an average height of 80.2 cm (SD = 14.7), with a correlation of 0.97 between heights of twins (Table I).

Is one twin always bigger than the other?

Most twin, triplet or more babies will be slightly different in size, but sometimes one baby is significantly smaller than the other/s. This is called 'selective' growth restriction (sFGR).

Are fraternal twins always the same height?

No, fraternal twins (dizygotic) are not guaranteed to be the same height because they develop from two separate eggs, meaning they're genetically like any other siblings, sharing about 50% of their genes, so environmental factors like nutrition, health, and even womb position can cause significant height differences, sometimes inches or more, as seen in real-life examples.
 

Which twin is the eldest?

The twin born first is technically older by birth date, but medically they are considered the same age as they developed from the same pregnancy; however, cultural views vary, with some traditions (like some in China) considering the twin born last as older, as they were "deeper" in the womb. For most practical purposes and legal definitions, the one who emerges first is the elder, though many twins just consider themselves the same age. 

Does being a twin affect your height?

Results. At the age of 18 years, twins were as tall as their siblings but were significantly leaner. Compared with children from the general population, adolescent twins attained the same height and BMI. Birth weight was shown to have a considerable effect on height in adolescent twins.

Is the first born twin taller?

With respect to height, first-born twins were slightly taller than second-born twins in childhood. After adjusting the results for birth weight, the birth order differences decreased and were not statistically significant anymore.

Who carries the gene for twins?

The tendency for fraternal twins is genetic and carried by the mother, specifically a gene for hyperovulation (releasing multiple eggs) that she inherits from her mother or father, but it's the woman who ovulates multiple eggs who has twins, not the father. A father can pass the gene to his daughters, increasing their chances, but his own family history of fraternal twins doesn't directly affect his partner's odds, though factors like age, diet, and fertility treatments also play a role. Identical twins, however, are generally not genetic and occur randomly when one fertilized egg splits.
 

Who are the tallest identical twins?

The tallest identical twins on record are Michael and James Lanier (USA), who both stood at 7 ft 3 in (223.5 cm), recognized by Guinness World Records as the tallest identical male twins, though Michael passed away in 2018. For females, Ann and Claire Recht (USA) are the tallest identical female twins, both measuring 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), according to Guinness World Records. 

What does the Bible say about twins?

The Bible mentions twins primarily through notable figures like Jacob and Esau, illustrating themes of divine purpose, rivalry, and God's choice (Genesis 25), and Perez and Zerah, highlighting birth order and God's intervention (Genesis 38). While not directly about twins, verses like Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 emphasize the strength and benefit of companionship, paralleling the bond twins share. 

Which parent determines weight?

Mothers' genes may shape children's weight - even without being passed down. A mother's genetics may play a bigger role in determining whether a child becomes overweight than a father's, as a result of a concept known as genetic nurture, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

What is a daisy baby?

A "Daisy Baby" is a term for babies affected by Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS), a serious condition in identical twins sharing a placenta, or related complications like TAPS, SIUGR, and TRAP. The name comes from the Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome Foundation (TTTSF), symbolizing twins thriving like daisies after surviving the "storm" of the condition, with their logo often showing two daisies from one stem, representing the shared life and journey. 

What causes one twin to be bigger than the other?

One twin can be bigger than the other due to unequal sharing of the placenta (especially in identical twins with shared blood vessels, causing conditions like TTTS or sFGR) or simply different genetics (in fraternal twins, like regular siblings), but sometimes a rare issue like superfetation (a second pregnancy occurring later) can make one much larger. The bigger twin often gets more nutrients/blood, while the smaller one faces growth restriction, but careful monitoring by doctors is crucial. 

What is considered a tall baby at birth?

A tall baby at birth is generally considered to be around 22 inches (56 cm) or longer, with the average newborn length being 19-20 inches (48-51 cm). Babies over 23 inches are quite long, and while genetics and being slightly overdue can contribute, most tall newborns are perfectly healthy; pediatricians track growth via percentile charts rather than focusing on a single measurement. 

Why can't twins go past 37 weeks?

This study found a mean gestation at birth for twins of 37 weeks, with the risk of stillbirth and early neonatal death increasing after 38 weeks gestation. The lowest risk of perinatal death in twin pregnancies at 38 weeks gestation corresponded to that observed in singleton pregnancies at 43 weeks gestation [7].

Which twin is older?

The twin born first is generally considered the older one in most cultures, but the second-born twin can technically be older due to time changes (like Daylight Saving) or, in some cultures, is considered the elder who prepared the way. For identical twins, it's usually the one born minutes earlier; for fraternal twins, it's the one conceived first, though this isn't always known.
 

Do twins share 100% the same DNA?

No, identical twins don't share exactly 100% DNA; they start with nearly identical DNA from one egg but develop small genetic mutations (point mutations) after splitting, plus differences in epigenetics (gene expression) due to environment, making each genome unique, though standard tests usually show them as identical. These tiny mutations, occurring after the embryo divides, create minor genetic variations that explain differences in traits or disease risk, say CNN. 

What is the main cause of twins?

People have twins through two main ways: identical (monozygotic) twins from one egg splitting, which is random, and fraternal (dizygotic) twins from two eggs fertilized by two sperm, often influenced by genetics, maternal age (over 30s), and fertility treatments. Factors like family history, previous pregnancies, and certain genes (FSHB, SMAD3) increase chances for fraternal twins, while identical twins result from an unpredictable early embryo split.
 

What sibling is most likely to be the tallest?

At age 10 then, controlling for number of older siblings, we estimate last-born children as 7.8 mm taller than those with one younger sibling and 10.0 mm taller than those with two or more ( Figure 2A).

Does it matter which twin is born first?

Despite the clinical impression that firstborn twins do better than second-born twins, recent reports have shown no difference in perinatal mortality between them.

Can one twin be taller than the other?

Yes, one twin can absolutely be taller than the other, even identical twins, due to environmental factors like nutrition (even in the womb), different growth spurts, or medical conditions, though fraternal twins naturally have different genetics leading to height differences. Height differences are common, with one twin sometimes being taller as a child, then the other as they mature, or a consistent difference persisting due to varied prenatal sharing of the placenta or lifestyle. 

Why is one twin shorter than the other?

Monochorionic twins share one placenta, with each having its own section for receiving nutrients and oxygen. But in sFGR, how much placenta each twin gets may not be equal, resulting in one twin receiving more than the other. This can cause the smaller twin not to grow properly, which is known as growth restriction.

What influences height the most?

They knew that about 80 to 90 percent of height is shaped by genetics, with environmental factors playing a smaller role. And by studying family histories, they'd identified hundreds of monogenic traits: single, rare genetic variants that can have large effects on height.

Are tall girls more likely to have twins?

Yes, taller women are statistically more likely to have twins, with studies showing women over a certain height (around 5'4" or taller) having a significantly higher chance, potentially due to higher levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) which increases ovarian sensitivity to hormones that trigger ovulation, leading to multiple eggs being released.