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YOUR DAILY DOSE OF SCIENCE 13

DUTCH SCIENTISTS MAY HAVE SOLVED MYSTERY

OF WHY SOME TWINS ARE IDENTICAL

The medical mystery of as it remains possible that working theory, and the Article: Identical twins carry
what causes some twins to is a consequence of the discovery of the common a persistent epigenetic
be born identical may have twinning process. But it marks could be helpful for a signature of early genome
been solved by scientists is said to be a plausible wide group of people. programming
in the Netherlands, raising
hopes for treatment of
congenital disorders that
disproportionately afflict
them. WE'D LIKE TO BE YOUR
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Identical twins form after
a fertilised egg, called a THE HEATING PROCESSES
zygote, splits into two em- IN YOUR LABORATORY.
bryos sharing exactly the
same genes. The reason Protherm is with you to offer solutions
for the split is unknown. for your special heat treatment
requirements and analyses.
The prevailing theory has
been that the biological
process that leads to
“monozygotic twinning” is
random. But international
researchers led by the Vrije
Universiteit Amsterdam
believe they have found a
common “signature” on the
DNA of identical twins.

The research, published in >Atmosphere Controlled furnaces up to 2.000°C
the journal Nature Com- >Ovens up to 650°C
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epigenetic modifications >High Temperature Tube Furnaces up to 1.800°C
>Split Furnaces and CVD systems up to 1.500°C
in twins’ DNA, factors that >Rotary Furnaces up to 1.600°C
can switch genes “on” or >Vacuum Furnaces up to 1.500°C and 10-3 Torr
“off” without changing their >And more…
underlying sequence. It
found that identical twins
from across the world
shared similar marks at
834 points across their
genome, the sum total of
an organism’s DNA.

The shared marks, the
scientists say, can allow
researchers to determine,
with up to 80% accuracy
whether an individual is
an identical twin, including
those unaware they had RTR Series PLF Series PVAC Series ACF Series 2.000°C
lost their twin in the womb, Rotary Furnaces Chamber Furnaces Vacuum Furnaces Atmosphere Controlled
known as vanishing twin Furnaces
syndrome, or been sepa-
rated at birth.

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It is yet to be proved that 1819. Sok. No:5 f: +90 312 257 13 35 mail@prothermfurnaces.com
the chemical marks on the Batıkent 06370 Ankara
DNA are the cause of iden-
tical twins being conceived,