via ‘Black and white twins’ born from the same egg for first time in the UK | Metro News 25 Feb 2016
Aren’t these the most adorable twins ever?
Amelia and Jasmine, both one year old, are thought to be the first twins in the UK with different skin colours, despite coming from the same egg.
Before they were born their mum, 37-year-old Libby Appleby, was told by doctors that the babies would look so similar they’d need to be marked with ink.
However, when they were delivered at University Durham Hospital, medics ‘gasped’ because the sisters had different skin and eye colours.
‘When they were born, we were flabbergasted – even the doctors couldn’t believe it,’ she said. ‘They look like they’re different races. Amelia is the spitting image of her dad, while Jasmine is a mini version of me.’
Libby and her partner of three years, electrical engineer Tafadzwa Madzimbamuto, 40, found out they were expecting in June 2014.
The twins are monozygotic, meaning they were formed in the same embryo, but developed in separate sacs. However a placenta sample confirmed the babies are 100 per cent genetically identical.
Dr Claire Steves, from King’s College London’s department of twin research, said multiple genes control skin colour and eye colour – so while twins are likely to share these traits, it’s not definite.
She added that Amelia and Jasmine could look different if there was a change in the way each developed in the womb.
‘An exception might be when a change in one of these happens after the twins separate in very early development – called somatic mutation,’ she added.
COMMENTS
What rubbish is this about “…different races”! THERE IS ONLY ONE, I MEAN HUMAN RACE. STOP MISUSING THE THE TERM RACE. THE RUBBISH ABOUT RACISM THIS RACISM THAT IS A MISNOMER!!!. THE UN MUST REVISIT USE OF THIS TERM!!!!!IS THE FATHER SON OF ZAPUs Dan Madzimbamuto!!!!!@