[__ Science __ ] Conjoined Twins

[HeIsRisen2018]

I guess there is this reality show about two conjoined twins named Abby and Brittany and I was just wondering how they do anything. Things we take for granted like eating and relieving ourselves. Also I think they plan on getting married (if they're not already) and having children and I wonder how that's all going to work.

 

[EricaAnn]

I've watched a documentary about their lives when they were about 13 years old. It was very interesting and eye opening, and worth the time in front of the television (and it's not often I say that!)

 

[Barbarian]

This has happened before, including marriage.

Chang and Eng Bunker - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

This has happened before, including marriage.

Chang and Eng Bunker - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

It still doesn't say how that was possible and were they both the fathers of each other's babies or was one of them the uncle?

 

[KevinK]

It looks to me like their reproductive machinery was completely separate, so children-wise no different from any other two brothers. Women I'm not sure; it would depend how they were conjoined internally, again whether the reproductive system is shared or separate.

 

[Barbarian]

The women seem to be more complicated in that case. Apparently, various organs are a mix of the cells from each of them, which makes the genetics of the baby uncertain. BTW, even "identical twins" have somewhat different genes.

Identical Twins' Genes Are Not Identical

Twins may appear to be cut from the same cloth, but their genes reveal a different pattern

www.scientificamerican.com

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

The women seem to be more complicated in that case. Apparently, various organs are a mix of the cells from each of them, which makes the genetics of the baby uncertain. BTW, even "identical twins" have somewhat different genes.

Identical Twins' Genes Are Not Identical

Twins may appear to be cut from the same cloth, but their genes reveal a different pattern

www.scientificamerican.com

Yeah, I already knew that part.

 

[OzSpen]

I guess there is this reality show about two conjoined twins named Abby and Brittany and I was just wondering how they do anything. Things we take for granted like eating and relieving ourselves. Also I think they plan on getting married (if they're not already) and having children and I wonder how that's all going to work.

HIR,

This is not a reality show but actual medical reality. Two conjoined twins in London were successfully separated in a 50-hour surgery involving 100 medical people.

These twins, Safa and Marwa Ullah, were fused at the head. They were born in Pakistan.

Oz

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

HIR,

This is not a reality show but actual medical reality. Two conjoined twins in London were successfully separated in a 50-hour surgery involving 100 medical people.

These twins, Safa and Marwa Ullah, were fused at the head. They were born in Pakistan.

Oz

Yeah I know, they (Abby and Brittany) just have a reality show about themselves and their lifestyles.

 

[OzSpen]

Yeah I know, they (Abby and Brittany) just have a reality show about themselves and their lifestyles.

HIR,

Is that what is happening on TV in the USA? I have not heard of it being offered Down Under, but I don't watch that kind of thing and could have missed the promos for it if it's on cable or another channel.

Cricket in the UK is happening for me at the moment and the rugby league season is drawing to a close.l

Oz

 

[jasonc]

we gave up tv this month. cable is going to go away when one can buy wifi services and pay for the shows you want to watch without ads.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

we gave up tv this month. cable is going to go away when one can buy wifi services and pay for the shows you want to watch without ads.

True.