identical twins (monozygotic) - who do not share their birthdays !!!

Sure you know the Zodiac sign Gemini  - mythologically considered twins. A twin is one of two offspring produced in the same pregnancy. Twins can either be monozygotic ("identical"), meaning that they develop from one zygote that splits and forms two embryos, or dizygotic ("fraternal") because they develop from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two separate sperm. Can you easily identify the identical looking twins that you know ?

There are so many stories and myths associated with ‘twins’ – strangely, many Cinemas would show that the twins would react for the other – i.e., when villain hits one, the pain would be felt by the other remaining elsewhere !! [Nagarjune in Hello Brother]  - there are many comedy scenes shown as arising out of the mistaken identity of the twins……. ‘Apoorva Sahodarargal’ the Kamal starrer was the story of twins – one normal and one dwarf; Jeans was another;  the Shankar Science fiction written by legendary Sujata - Enthiran [Robot] directed by Shankar featured Rajinikanth in dual roles as a scientist and an android robot.    In one of the scenes, Aishwarya Rai would be preparing for her examination in Medical science and Chitti would revise the minutest details astonishingly.  -  that was about monozygotic twins.  Twins, may not look alike; may not be born at the same time; there can be difference in time.

One of the famous twins in Cricket is Mark and Steve Waugh – born on 2nd June 1965-  born to Rodger and Beverley Waugh. Mark arrived four minutes after Steve. Their father was a bank official and their mother was a teacher within the New South Wales Department of Education.   In 1976, the twins were the youngest ever to be selected in the New South Wales Primary Schools' soccer team. Steve Waugh later became a successful Captain, while Mark was considered more elegant batsman of the two. Both were allrounders too, with Steve getting more wickets. 

Mark Waugh played 128 tests scored 8029 runs with 20 centuries; 244 ODIs – 8500 runs; took 59 & 85 wickets in Tests and ODIs respectively.  Steve Waugh led in 15 of their World record 16 consecutive test wins, only to be broken at Kolkatta.  Steve played 168 tests – 10927 runs with 32 centuries and 325 ODIs making 7569 runs; took 92 and 195 wickets in Tests & ODIs. They were not identical. Hamish and James Marshall who played for New Zealand were identical – though the comparison stops there. 

Hamish and James Marshall

Twins will share a common birth day …… is the common accepted theory – but – not necessarily is what is stated in the case of sisters who despite being born with 18 minute age gap.  Nothing complicated as in the case of Deborah Atherton, 35, reported in Daily Mail.  She  gave birth to her daughters either side of midnight. Robyn came first at 11.55pm on Sunday night weighing 4lbs 5oz; Scarlett followed at 12.13am on Monday morning weighing 5lbs 11oz. 

As identical twins Robyn and Scarlett Atherton will share many experiences in their life - but they will never share the same birthday despite being born 18 minutes apart. : Deborah Atherton, 35, from Bolton, said she and her husband, Stuart, will let the girls decide when they are older if they want to celebrate their birthdays separately.  The separation of 18 minutes is a day’s gap, which is but natural.

Both girls are healthy and settling in at their home in Bolton where their doting dad, a trainer at a medical legal company, has created memory boxes for them.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

28^th Nov. 2014. Photo credits : Cricinfo and Daily Mail.