4/15/2006: Mixed-race couple has black and white twins

Undertoad · 04-15-2006, 10:26 AM

This item is a few weeks old, sent along by xoB, but it's the sort of item that's timeless anyway. These two children are twins, born to the mother and father shown above.

xoB sends along the original Daily Mail article and the Snopes page that verify that this is, in fact, a case of twins born to the same father. Genetically, you could imagine how it might happen - but the Daily Mail article explains the genetics behind it, and rates the chances of it happening at about a million to one.

skysidhe · 04-15-2006, 10:56 AM

Makes a mental note ya both are jokesters :p

The blond baby is probably at crawling stage and the dark baby is toddling.

But I did see a program once where two blond hair sweds gave birth to a black baby!

Now that WAS TRUE.

zippyt · 04-15-2006, 10:59 AM

he looks pleased ;(

skysidhe · 04-15-2006, 11:30 AM

pleased?Pissed? It's a sad day? They are all unrelated is my guess.

Here is the miracle I think you are looking for.

Shocker · 04-15-2006, 11:32 AM

OMG! is that the were-rabbit from wallace and gromit?

Perry Winkle · 04-15-2006, 01:06 PM

naw, that's his wife.

xoxoxoBruce · 04-15-2006, 03:55 PM

They're twins alright, both parents are mixed race and carry both sets of genes.

bigpeeler · 04-16-2006, 02:03 AM

I say both those kids are in therapy before they're in kindergarten.

Kagen4o4 · 04-16-2006, 03:24 AM

now we just need a set of identical twins, expect one is black and the other is white

ashke · 04-17-2006, 03:26 AM

You can't get them that way. Identical twins = identical DNA = identical skin tone.

sktzofrenic · 04-17-2006, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashke

You can't get them that way. Identical twins = identical DNA = identical skin tone.

Identical twins does indeed mean the same sperm and therefore the same DNA, but please keep in mind that not all the genotypes in the DNA will express itself as a phenotype. In this case they both have the genes for both black and white skin but only one phenotype in this case expressed itself.

EDIT to say that after reading the snopes article they are fraternal twins not "identical twins" therefore there are two different eggs and sperm which makes it even more likely to occur (although still very rare).

John · 04-17-2006, 09:03 AM

Quote:

You can't get them that way. Identical twins = identical DNA = identical skin tone.

That would be true *if* they were identical twins.

They are not. They are fraternal twins. Two sperm, two eggs, two separate DNA profiles, two children.

In this case, as both parents are mixed-race, one happened to get a set of genes for light skin and one got a set of genes for dark skin. It's not even all that shocking, in theory, it's just very jarring in practice.

John · 04-17-2006, 09:04 AM

... and as soon as I post that, I realise that you're responding to someone else, and suddenly I feel dumb.

xoxoxoBruce · 04-17-2006, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John

... and as soon as I post that, I realise that you're responding to someone else, and suddenly I feel dumb.

Ha ha ha, I'm glad I'm not the only one that happens too.

04-17-2006, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sktzofrenic

Identical twins does indeed mean the same sperm and therefore the same DNA, but please keep in mind that not all the genotypes in the DNA will express itself as a phenotype. In this case they both have the genes for both black and white skin but only one phenotype in this case expressed itself.

Identical twins WILL have the same skin color. You are thinking of incomplete dominance or genes that can switch on and off. Multiple alleles (genotype) contribute to skin color (phenotype) in human beings. If you have the identical set of alleles, you will have the identical skin color of your twin. Explanation for those with a scientific bent.

04-15-2006, 10:26 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	4/15/2006: Mixed-race couple has black and white twins This item is a few weeks old, sent along by xoB, but it's the sort of item that's timeless anyway. These two children are twins, born to the mother and father shown above. xoB sends along the original Daily Mail article and the Snopes page that verify that this is, in fact, a case of twins born to the same father. Genetically, you could imagine how it might happen - but the Daily Mail article explains the genetics behind it, and rates the chances of it happening at about a million to one.

04-15-2006, 10:59 AM	#3
zippyt LONG LIVE KING ZIPPY! per Feetz Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Arkansas Posts: 7,661	he looks pleased ;( __________________ "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. " Brother Dave Gardner

04-15-2006, 11:30 AM	#4
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	pleased?Pissed? It's a sad day? They are all unrelated is my guess. Here is the miracle I think you are looking for. Last edited by skysidhe; 03-26-2007 at 08:15 PM.

04-15-2006, 03:55 PM	#7
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	They're twins alright, both parents are mixed race and carry both sets of genes. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

04-16-2006, 02:03 AM	#8
bigpeeler Internet Superstar Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Chair Posts: 9	I say both those kids are in therapy before they're in kindergarten. __________________ In vino veritas

04-15-2006, 10:56 AM	#2
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	Makes a mental note ya both are jokesters :p The blond baby is probably at crawling stage and the dark baby is toddling. But I did see a program once where two blond hair sweds gave birth to a black baby! Now that WAS TRUE.

04-15-2006, 11:32 AM	#5
Shocker Knight of the Oval-Shaped Conference Table Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Your Mom's house Posts: 378	OMG! is that the were-rabbit from wallace and gromit?

04-15-2006, 01:06 PM	#6
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	naw, that's his wife.

04-16-2006, 03:24 AM	#9
Kagen4o4 The Sheriff of Nothingland Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Melbourne, Aus Posts: 1,794	now we just need a set of identical twins, expect one is black and the other is white __________________ something we both can enjoy??

04-17-2006, 03:26 AM	#10
ashke Don't look at me! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 288	You can't get them that way. Identical twins = identical DNA = identical skin tone.

04-17-2006, 09:04 AM	#13
John Operations Operative Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 562	... and as soon as I post that, I realise that you're responding to someone else, and suddenly I feel dumb.

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