Doggedly searching for the crux of the biscuit.
A British couple beat terribly steep odds to produce these twin girls.
The amazing conception happened after two eggs were fertilised at the same time in the womb. Both Kylie and her partner Remi Horder, 17, are of mixed race. Their mothers are both white and their fathers are black. According to the Multiple Births Foundation, baby Kian must have inherited the black genes from both sides of the family, whilst Remee inherited the white ones. [...]
The odds against of a mixed race couple having twins of dramatically different colour are a million to one. Skin colour is believed to be determined by up to seven different genes working together. If a woman is of mixed race, her eggs will usually contain a mixture of genes coding for both black and white skin. Similarly, a man of mixed race will have a variety of different genes in his sperm. When these eggs and sperm come together, they will create a baby of mixed race.
But, very occasionally, the egg or sperm might contain genes coding for one skin colour. If both the egg and sperm contain all white genes, the baby will be white. And if both contain just the versions necessary for black skin, the baby will be black. For a mixed-race couple, the odds of either of these scenarios is around 100 to one. But both scenarios can occur at the same time if the woman conceives non-identical twins, another 100 to one chance. This involves two eggs being fertilised by two sperm at the same time, which also has odds of around 100 to one.
If a sperm containing all-white genes fuses with a similar egg and a sperm coding for purely black skin fuses with a similar egg, two babies of dramatically different colours will be born. The odds of this happening are 100 x 100 x 100 - a million to one.
Despite the skin tone differences, the girls really do look similar enough to be sisters, to me anyhow. Kian might end up towering over Remee, though, just judging from their arms and legs. Via The Agonist.
TrackBackThat's pretty incredible. Last semester in advanced Bio we talked about the vast number of possible gene combinations that goes into making one human being. It's in the billions.. never in my life have I felt so truly unique, even if it's merely at the genotype level.
Posted by: Alena at March 1, 2006 12:28 PMApos mate
Ain't life grand...and in some cases, exceptionally lucky.
Sensational photo.
I bet your advanced Bio prof uses that old "you're so genotypically unique" line with all the girls.
Posted by: M/tch M/lls at March 1, 2006 06:15 PMI saw that and I was thinking of how damn cool it's going to be for those girls to introduce "my twin sister" to unsuspecting acquaintances for the rest of their lives. Hehehe.
Posted by: bitchphd at March 2, 2006 01:12 AMSo different, but so sisterly in looks, and both such cute babies! Life is full of wonder, ain't it?
Posted by: Robust McManlyPants at March 2, 2006 01:54 PMThat is the coolest!
An infant's length does not always correspond with their adult height. I was the longest baby in my family by over 2 inches, As an adult, I am the shortest in the family by the same dimension.
Posted by: Ru at March 5, 2006 01:36 AMYou were longest by over two inches at birth? Why ain'tcha in the movies?
Posted by: Matt Weiner at March 5, 2006 11:07 AM(If Ru is a woman, the last comment will amuse me even more. I'm easy like that.)
Posted by: Matt Weiner at March 5, 2006 11:14 AMThen she definitely could have a career in the movies, albeit possibly a more specialized market.
Posted by: Matt Weiner at March 5, 2006 12:16 PMi have non identical twin boys they are so unlike its unreal look so different not as different as these little princess
Posted by: emma at March 26, 2007 04:26 PMthey are both very beautiful babies regardless of the colers of their skins, they are unuique and thats what makes them so special...
:)
wow this is the most awesome thing i have ever seen in my life... i too am mixed, in race but i have never come out completely jus one race but this is unique. They are sooo cute, i wonder wat both of ur white parents thought. huh strong genes.
Posted by: Alexis at April 19, 2007 12:16 PMWhat can I say? Both are little angels!
I think this is just so perfect and beautiful...Eggs and sperms dont care if your black or white!! :)
hugs and kisses to all of you'll.
you have an adorable family!!!!!
So that's why apo posted about this. How did you manage such a long-distance tryst, apo? Poor, poor cuckolded Remi.
Posted by: M/tch M/lls at April 26, 2007 12:20 PMpoor cuckolded Remi
Haven't we discussed this before? I'm pretty sure it's only men that grow horns when their partner does them wrong.
Posted by: Clownęsthesiologist at April 26, 2007 12:32 PMHow did you manage such a long-distance tryst
I can show you, but you'll have to stand way back.
Posted by: apostropher at April 26, 2007 12:36 PM20: Um, what? Isn't Remi the "father"?
21: Phew. I must admit I was a little worried that apostropher wouldn't come through with the proper response to my brilliant set-up. It has happened before.
Posted by: M/tch M/lls at April 26, 2007 01:38 PMBTW did you guys catch the fetching photo of Keegan in this month's New York Magazine?
Posted by: Clownęsthesiologist at April 26, 2007 02:19 PMSigh. They grow up so fast. Seems like just yesterday he was in the fourth grade. Wait, that was just yesterday.
Posted by: apostropher at April 26, 2007 02:26 PMAlso, given his father, I'm pretty sure apo's son isn't going to wait till he's 25, unless it's some sort of "rebellion against all his father holds dear" type of thing.
Posted by: M/tch M/lls at April 26, 2007 03:06 PMthats awesome and will be a wonderful story for the girls to tell upon starting grade school
Posted by: Devyn at April 28, 2007 02:15 PMwow i never knew that could happen they are cute and you two are a cute couple!! in 20 i have quads 2 boys 2 girls !!! and it is hard
Posted by: cierra at May 26, 2007 11:18 AMNature is wonderful. These girls are both adorble and special.
Posted by: sc at June 10, 2007 10:08 PMit still don't tell me how non-identical twins are born and made
Posted by: chloe at September 8, 2007 08:47 AMI know!!!! I agree with chloe im looking up this for my homework and i cannot fine enything on this stuff. p.s prettii girls x
Posted by: evez at November 14, 2007 01:37 PMomg i cant find anything this is sooo hard !! =C cute gurls
Posted by: leisha at December 2, 2007 03:34 PMThat is absolutely AMAZING. Beautiful baby girls. Congrats to the parents.
Posted by: Mica at December 13, 2007 11:47 PMThey are sooo beautiful!!!! I hope that happens when I get older! That iz nice!
Posted by: Cristobal Matias Rodriguez at February 24, 2008 02:44 PMOoohh...., Both r cute gals....,,
Now I really believe in God,, heheh
Posted by: AkbarPratama at April 12, 2008 05:10 AMI think both of these babies are gorgeous no matter what color they are!!
Posted by: Bri Nicholle at April 14, 2008 12:08 PMI have atwin like them ..she does not like me ever we are spical ...
Posted by: koko at April 15, 2008 09:33 AMi think its beautiful that this has happenend.
they could possibly become famous for this.
and for all you immature bitches writing negative things, you all need to get a life because this is the most beautiful thing i have ever seen.
im not a parent yet or im not mixed, but i would hope to have a family as beautiful one day.
i LUV it!!!
enjoy your life wit your beautiful family.
They are so cute. I am having twins and cant wait to find out what they will look like and if they are identical. I think it is going to be kind of hard for them when they ar eolder. I bet one will meet a racist person who doesnt like the other sister. You usually will doubt that could happen bvut look how much unusual stuff alreadey happened to them. I think since they are different they will be even closer for it. These are some lucky parents. They can tell their twins apart easily unlike most. I bet people will think they werent married when the babies were born then got together.
THEY ARE SO CUTE!!!!!!!!! ;)
Posted by: emily at May 11, 2008 10:22 PMThese babies are adorable! And even though they have different skin colors they do look alike. Some people might think these babies are the first but they actually not! My great-grandfather went to school with a boy who's twin was a different color. His twin had to go to a seperate school because schools were still segregated back then.
Posted by: Lissi at May 29, 2008 07:13 PMomg they are so adorable i would love to have them as my own i would consider the parents very lucky to have to very precious girls like that
Posted by: lassie at October 2, 2008 09:54 AM