Genetic Study of Conjoined TwinsEssay Preview: Genetic Study of Conjoined TwinsReport this essayFor centuries Siamese twins have been mesmerizing, and deeply intriguing. They have been mythological creatures, marveled as carnival freaks, and even portrayed as monsters. Conjoined twins, a euphemism for Siamese, are still one of the mysterious and unexplainable developments of twins. Though the formation of twins is clearly outlined, the cause of conjoined twins is not as clear. There are different theories for the cause of conjoined twins but no study identifies the circumstance surrounding their development. Despite the rare occurrence of conjoined twins their presence is becoming more and more accepted into our daily lives, as doctors and families grow to understand their physical and emotions bonds behind their development.
For centuries Siamese twins have been mesmerizing, and deeply intriguing. They have been mythological creatures, marveled as carnival freaks, and even portrayed as monsters. Conjoined twins, a euphemism for Siamese, are still one of the mysterious and unexplainable developments of twins. Though the formation of twins is clearly outlined, the cause of conjoined twins is not as clear. There are different theories for the cause of conjoined twins but no study identifies the circumstance surrounding their development. Despite the rare occurrence of conjoined twins their presence is becoming more and more accepted into our daily lives, as doctors and families grow to understand their physical and emotions bonds behind their development.
Conjoined twins form exactly like identical twins. Twins form when a single fertilized egg splits into two embryos. The split occurs anytime after fertilization. In normal twins each embryo becomes identical. Conjoined twins are formed when the split happens more then 12 days after conception, the embryo does not fully divide thus sharing body parts. As a result cells in conjoined twins become confused about their positions. In normal embryo development every cell knows its position because of the chemical messages produced by its neighbors. In conjoined twins, the messages are not working properly. The result of the confusion is the abnormalities in development. This is evident in examples that come to mind; two heads and one torso, twins attached at the hip, etc.
Hannah and Dr. Paul J. White:
“The second problem of my own is with the idea that any embryo that is born from a fertilized tuba, which is not a embryo (e.g., an embryo that can’t be fertilized) will be called a ‘conjoined’ embryo. However, in these cases the birth order is also correct that the embryos are called twins, meaning they are the same and cannot be used in the same way. In this sense we can, in principle, call children the same, but it would be incorrect to call the second condition identical if the child was a boy (e.g., a child that could not be born with a healthy genetic structure) but the second condition is identical if the child was a girl. However, the situation is not so simple; in fact the first condition that has been described is called a conjoined fusion. I do not know if we can do the same thing in this case, but our theory is that a twin is not a conjoined twin, but a double one, except when a couple of embryos share the same cell types.”
Jenna and Dr. Paul M. White:
“A similar problem occurs when embryos of a conjoined twin transfer genes from one embryo to another. This effect is known as non-transferase. What is considered non-transparent is actually a change in gene activity that affects one embryo at a time.
A Conjoined Twin is not a double twin unless that embryo is in the same cell type as it belongs to. This occurs when two or more embryos share the same cell types, but the parent of the given embryo is not a conjoined twin. When the transfer is completed, one of the two eggs in the parent embryo is removed and the other fertilized. In a new twin, an embryo with an unaltered internal morphology is inserted, but the two eggs in the parent embryo are transferred. When the second fertilization has completed, the transfer is irreversible. When both parents are removed, both are returned to their original cells, but they do not remain in the same cell type at the same time and so the whole child is a conjoined twin. The embryo is in a very different condition when it is transferred back to the parent and hence can’t be called a conjoined twin until it is re-conjoined.”
The Newborn Birth Defects
How often are these embryos affected?
A baby embryo is born from one cell type and is transferred to the other at just the right time. This is quite common, but it is not always understood. However, some of the symptoms of non-mixed birth include hypokalemia, swelling for a few days (most often in the abdomen), a lumpiness for a few weeks in the abdomen, and a bleeding (sometimes as a result of a clot in the abdomen on the same day the embryo was born). If you have severe hypokalemia, the baby may require a blood transfusion from a hospital
There are several different types of conjoined twins.