Are twins due to mother or father?

For a given pregnancy, the odds of conceiving fraternal twins are only determined by the mother's genetics, not the father's. Fraternal twins happen when two eggs are simultaneously fertilised instead of just one.

amba.org.au - Do multiples or twins run in families and do they skip a generation?

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There’s both fact and fiction to the rumours that twins run in families and tend to skip a generation. Here's what you need to know about the science behind family heredity and twins. Twin genetics depend on what kind of twins we are talking about. Identical twins vs fraternal twins. The important difference between identical and fraternal twins is the number of fertilised eggs involved. Identical twins come from a single fertilised egg. Fraternal twins come from two different ones.

Identical twinning and family heredity

Identical twins happen when a single embryo splits in two soon after fertilisation. This is why identical twins have identical DNA. They came from the same fertilised egg. Since embryo splitting is a random spontaneous event that happens by chance, it doesn’t run in families. Genes are not involved and there's no scientific evidence that being from a family with identical multiples has any impact on your odds of having twins. The same is not true for fraternal twins. So, having identical twins is not due to genetics. On the other hand, fraternal twins can run in families. In fact, a woman that has a sibling that is a fraternal twin is 2.5 times more likely to have twins than average!

Fraternal twinning and family heredity

For a given pregnancy, the odds of conceiving fraternal twins are only determined by the mother’s genetics, not the father's. Fraternal twins happen when two eggs are simultaneously fertilised instead of just one. There appears to be a genetic link that predisposes some women to hyperovulation, which means releasing more than one egg during ovulation, or each menstrual cycle. Heredity on the father's side does not increase a couple's odds of having multiples. This is true even if his family is full of multiples. Men, of course, don't ovulate, so even if they've inherited that hyperovulation gene from their parents, it doesn't increase their own odds of conceiving twins. It's all about the fertilisation of eggs and a father’s genes can’t make a woman release two eggs.

Do twins skip a generation?

You may have heard that twins 'skip a generation'. While it's not a blanket true statement, it is actually based on some truth. Here's how: we know that twinning is due to factors on the woman's side, like hyperovulation. But it takes two to make a baby, or babies in our case! This is where the skipping is relevant. A man's family history of twins can’t increase his partner’s chance of having twins. If a man has inherited the hyperovulation gene from his mother, he may pass this gene on to his daughter, but it won't impact on the chances of him conceiving multiples with his own partner. Men, of course, don't ovulate, so the chance of twins or more is up to the woman. The man's daughter, however, having inherited the hyperovulation gene through her father is then more likely to release more than one egg when she ovulates and therefore could conceive fraternal twins. In that scenario, it would seem as though the twins have, in essence, skipped a generation.

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Can a 90 year old man get a woman pregnant?

In this Article. There's no maximum age that stops a man from being able to have a baby. You can become a father long into your older years, but there are risks.

webmd.com - Is It Too Late to Have a Baby for a 60-Year-Old Man? - WebMD

There’s no maximum age that stops a man from being able to have a baby. You can become a father long into your older years , but there are risks.

Risks of Older Men Having a Baby

When you get older, your sperm quality isn’t as great as it used to be. This happens for a few reasons, like:

Your testicles become softer and smaller.

Your sperm becomes disfigured and slow.

The blood supply to your genitals gets lower.

You have lower testosterone levels.

For most men, these problems happen after the age of 50.

Your baby might have higher odds of getting a genetic disorder. As you age, you’re more likely to have gene changes, or mutations, in your sperm. If you have a baby at an older age, you have higher chances of passing on a genetic disorder. The baby’s risk for mental health or brain disorders may be higher. A father’s older age can cause schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or autism spectrum disorder.

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