Fraternal twins are “dizygotic,” meaning that they developed from two different eggs fertilized by two different sperm cells, while identical twins are “monozygotic” i.e., they developed from a single fertilized egg that split. The likelihood of identical twins is the same around the world — about 3 in 1,000, while the incidence of fraternal twins varies by geography and ranges from 6 to over 20 per 1,000 deliveries.
Comparison chart
 | Fraternal Twins | Identical Twins |
|---|---|---|
| Develop from | Two different eggs fertilized by two different sperm cells | The splitting of the same fertilized egg into two |
| Genetic code | Like any other sibling; not identical. | Nearly identical |
| Gender | Usually different | Always the same |
| Likelihood | Varies by country. About 6 in 1,000 in Japan, up to over 20 per 1,000 in some parts of Africa. Two-thirds of all twins in the world are fraternal. | Uniform around the world; about 3 in 1,000. Only one-third of all twins in the world are identical. |
| Blood type | May be different | Always the same |
| Causes | Hereditary predisposition, certain fertility drugs, IVF | Not known |
| Appearance | As similar as any other sibling | Extremely similar, although may not be exactly identical due to environmental factors |
| In utero | Develop separate sacs in utero. | May be contained in one sac in utero. |
| Risk for TTTS (twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome) | Low risk | Higher risk compared with fraternal twins |
| Fingerprints | Different | Different |
Zygosity and Genetic Similarity
Zygosity refers to the similarity between the genomes of each twin. Fraternal twins are dizygotic, meaning that they developed from two different eggs fertilized by two different sperms. Their genetic code is as similar (or dissimilar) as any other siblings.
Identical twins are monozygotic, meaning that they developed from the same fertilized egg, and so have nearly identical genetic code. They almost always have the same gender and many of the same physical characteristics (phenotypes). However, they may develop some genetic differences after the zygote splits, due to mutations in the DNA.
Children of monozygotic twins test genetically as half-siblings instead of first cousins.
Types
There are four types of twins:
- Diochorionic-diamniotic twins either never divided (aka are fraternal twins) or divided within the first four days and have two separate amniotic sacs and placentas. This includes almost all fraternal twins.
- Monochorionic-diamniotic twins share the same placenta, but have two amniotic sacs. This occurs when the embryo splits in 4-8 days and includes 60-70% of all identical twin pregnancies.
- Monochorionic-monoamniotic twins share the same amniotic sac and appear when the embryo splits after 9 days.
- Conjoined twins occur when division takes place later than 12 days after fertilization.
Identifying fraternal and identical twins
Often, identical twins can be identified in the womb, as they often share a placenta. After birth, it can be deduced that twins are fraternal if they are of different genders (a boy and a girl) or if they have different blood types. However, the only way to reliably conclude that they are identical twins is through genetic testing (a twin zygosity DNA test).
Quite paradoxically, identical twins may not always look exactly alike even though they share the same genetic make up. Environmental factors may cause their appearance to evolve differently as early as inside the mother's womb. Here's a video of twin children of an interracial couple, one of whom is black and the other white:
Risks
The survival rate of monoamniotic twins is between 50-60%, because of the risk that the umbilical cord will become tangled around the babies. This can also deprive them of oxygen, leading to cerebral palsy. Twins are at higher risk of lower birth weights and premature birth. The length of gestation is usually around 38 weeks for twins, compared to 40 for single births.
Statistics
The chance of identical twins is the same all over the world: around 3 in every 1000 births.
The chance of fraternal twins depends on many factors, include the country of birth (they form 6 out of every 1000 births in Japan, to 15 or more per 1000 births in parts of India). They are more common in mothers over 35, and in pregnancies that involve IVF treatment.
Fraternal twins occur due to hyper-ovulation i.e. the mother releasing more than one egg per cycle. Women who have already had fraternal twins are four times more likely to have fraternal twins in their next pregnancy. Certain drugs like clomiphene increase the probability of fraternal twins to about 10% because they tend to bring about hyper-ovulation. [1]
Fingerprints
Neither fraternal nor identical twins have the same fingerprints. This is because environmental factors in the womb affect the development of fingerprints, slightly altering them for each individual. Fingerprints are an example of phenotype, which can be different even if two individuals share the same genotype.
Allele 
Genotype 
Nature 
DNA 
Gamete 
Dominant
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