Inside the Minds of Twins and Triplets

                                                            by: Vanessa Morin '15
 5,905 triplets were born in America in 2009. 1.8% of the population of the world consists of triplets. Identical triplets of the same sex are extremely rare; it is something that occurs only once in every 500,000 births. The percentage rate of twins living in the United States is 43%. Twins can either be fraternal or identical. Identical twins have nearly the same brain wave patterns. 22% of twins are left-handed. In the year 2006, 137,085 sets of twins were born.

            Of the ten people interviewed, 80% said they were fraternal. When asked if it was difficult to develop their own identity as an individual, only 30% responded yes. Most responded by saying that their different interests and personalities were things that set them apart. Twins of opposite genders developed differently. When questioned what famous twins or triplets they would like to be, answers such as Dylan and Cole Sprouse, Tia and Tamera, the Olsen twins, and the Johannson twins emerged.

            Being a twin or a triplet is an extraordinary trait that is due to a gene being present within some families. 60% of people that are twins or triplets say they enjoy being a twin or triplet. However, it has advantages and disadvantages. 50% of people that are twins say they would love to have twins when they grow up, but the other 50% say they would not due to negative and positive things such as people always treating them the same way.