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Zygosity, Placental Membranes and Weinberg's Rule in a Danish Consecutive Twin Series

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

H. Husby ,
N.V. Holm ,
A. Gernow ,
S.G. Thomsen ,
K. Kock  and
H. Gürtler
H. Husby
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Genetics, Odense University
N.V. Holm*
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Genetics, Odense University
A. Gernow
Affiliation:
Institute of Pathology, Odense University
S.G. Thomsen
Affiliation:
Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Odense University
K. Kock
Affiliation:
Institute of Pathology, Odense University
H. Gürtler
Affiliation:
Institute of Forensic Medicine, Copenhagen University, Denmark
*
Institute of Medical Genetics, Winslöwsvej 17, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark

Abstract

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The usual assumption that monochorionic twins are monozygotic has recently been questioned, based on blood group discordance in 3 of 12 monochorionic pairs. Therefore, this study evaluates the validity of zygosity diagnosis based on examination of placental membranes, and at the same time evaluates Weinberg's differential rule in a Danish consecutive twin series. All twin pairs, 265 like-sexed and 87 unlike-sexed pairs, born at Odense University Hospital, Denmark, from 1 January 1980 through 31 August 1988, were ascertained. In 229 like-sexed pairs, zygosity was determined by serological methods, and in 190 of these, the fetal membranes could be reliably classified. Fiftynine monochorionic twin pairs were identified and none of those pairs were discordant for any genetic markers. Therefore, we conclude that monochorionic twins can be considered monozygotic. The distribution of monozygotic and dizygotic pairs was in accordance with Weinberg's rule.

Keywords

Zygosity diagnosisChorionicityWeinberg's rule
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 40 , Issue 2 , April 1991 , pp. 147 - 152
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1991

References

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