Do you have a family history of twins? If so, you may be wondering which parent carries the gene for twins.*
The answer might surprise you! Recent studies have shown that it is actually not the mother’s genes that are responsible for having twins, but rather a combination of both parents’ genes.
In this blog post, we will discuss why this is and what implications it has on prospective parents.
Which parent carries the gene for twins? The Science Behind It All
Genetics plays a major role in determining whether or not a couple will give birth to twins.
Specifically, non-identical (fraternal) twins occur when two separate eggs are fertilized by two different sperm cells at the same time. Identical twins, on the other hand, occur when one fertilized egg splits into two embryos.
So while it’s true that a woman’s age and size can influence her chances of having multiple pregnancies, recent research has found that the father’s genes also play an important role in the likelihood of having fraternal twins.
The study looked at over 11 million births from Australia, Canada and Sweden between 1983 and 2013 and found that genetic variations on certain chromosomes passed down from both parents had an effect on conceiving fraternal twins.
The researchers identified four genetic variants associated with increased odds of giving birth to fraternal twins—two on chromosome 2 inherited from mothers and two on chromosome 8 inherited from fathers.
This means that if either parent has these variants in their DNA then they are more likely to give birth to non-identical multiples.
Fertility Treatments & Twins
It’s important to note that fertility treatments can also increase your chances of having multiples even if neither parent carries any of the genetic variants mentioned above.
This is because fertility treatments involve stimulating ovulation with hormones such as Clomid or FSH which can cause women to release more than one egg per cycle increasing their chances of conceiving fraternal multiples.
Additionally, some fertility treatments involve transferring more than one embryo into the uterus which increases your chances of having identical twins as well as non-identical ones.
In summary, both parents’ genes play an important role in determining whether or not couples will give birth to multiples but factors such as age, weight and fertility treatments should also be taken into consideration before making any decisions about family size.
While there is no way to guarantee whether or not you will have twins naturally or through fertility treatments, understanding how genetics can influence your odds can help couples make better informed decisions when planning their families!
