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The Incidence of Superfecundation and of Double Paternity in the General Population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

W. H. James
W. H. James*
Affiliation:
The Galton Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Biometry, University College, London
*
Galton Laboratory, Wolfson House, University College London, 4 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2HE, UK

Abstract

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It is estimated that at least one dizygotic (DZ) twin maternity in twelve is preceded by superfecundation (the fertilization of two ova by sperm from different coitions). Presumably this parameter varies from population to population eg. with coital rates and rates of double ovulation. Sometimes superfecundation occurs by two different men. The frequency with which this occurs must depend on rates of infidelity (promiscuity). It is suggested that among DZ twins born to married white women in the U.S., about one pair in 400 is bipaternal. The incidence may be substantially higher in small selected groups of dizygotic twin maternities, eg. those of women engaged in prostitution.

Keywords

Incidence of superfecundationIncidence of double paternity
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 42 , Issue 3-4 , October 1993 , pp. 257 - 262
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1993

References

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