It is well-known that twins are closer to each other than most brothers and sisters---- after all, they probably spend more time with each other.
It
is
well-known
that
twins
are
closer
to
each
other
than
most
brothers
and
sisters
--
--
after
all
,
they
probably
spend
more
time
with
each
other
.
Parents of twins often notice that they develop special ways of communicating: they invent their own words and one can often finish the other's sentence.
Parents
of
twins
often
notice
that
they
develop
special
ways
of
communicating
:
they
invent
their
own
words
and
one
can
often
finish
the
other
's
sentence
.
In exceptional circumstances, this closeness becomes more extreme: they invent a whole language of their own, as in the case of Grace and Virginia Kennedy from Georgia in the USA, who communicated so successfully in their own special language that they did not speak any English at all until after they started school.
In
exceptional
circumstances
,
this
closeness
becomes
more
extreme
:
they
invent
a
whole
language
of
their
own
,
as
in
the
case
of
Grace
and
Virginia
Kennedy
from
Georgia
in
the
USA
,
who
communicated
so
successfully
in
their
own
special
language
that
they
did
not
speak
any
English
at
all
until
after
they
started
school
.
However, these special relationships are the result of lives spent almost entirely in each other's company.
However
,
these
special
relationships
are
the
result
of
lives
spent
almost
entirely
in
each
other
's
company
.
What happens when twins do not grow up together, when they are separated at birth for some reason?
What
happens
when
twins
do
not
grow
up
together
,
when
they
are
separated
at
birth
for
some
reason
?
Are they just like any other strangers, or are there still special similarities between them?
Are
they
just
like
any
other
strangers
,
or
are
there
still
special
similarities
between
them
?
Professor Tom Bouchard, of the University of Minnesota, set out to find the answer to this question.
Professor
Tom
Bouchard
,
of
the
University
of
Minnesota
,
set
out
to
find
the
answer
to
this
question
.
He traced sixteen pairs of twins, who were adopted by different families when they were babies, and often brought up in very different circumstances.
He
traced
sixteen
pairs
of
twins
,
who
were
adopted
by
different
families
when
they
were
babies
,
and
often
brought
up
in
very
different
circumstances
.
Each twin was then interviewed about every small detail of their life.
Each
twin
was
then
interviewed
about
every
small
detail
of
their
life
.
The results of this research make a surprising reading.
The
results
of
this
research
make
a
surprising
reading
.
Many of the twins were found to have the same hobbies, many have suffered the same illnesses, and some have even had the same type of accident at the same point in their lives.
Many
of
the
twins
were
found
to
have
the
same
hobbies
,
many
have
suffered
the
same
illnesses
,
and
some
have
even
had
the
same
type
of
accident
at
the
same
point
in
their
lives
.
One pair of middle-aged women arrived for their first meeting in similar dresses, another pair were wearing similar jewellery.
One
pair
of
middle-aged
women
arrived
for
their
first
meeting
in
similar
dresses
,
another
pair
were
wearing
similar
jewellery
.
The most incredible similarities are to be found in the case of Jim Springer and Jim Lewis from Ohio in the USA.
The
most
incredible
similarities
are
to
be
found
in
the
case
of
Jim
Springer
and
Jim
Lewis
from
Ohio
in
the
USA
.
The story of the 'Jim Twins' made headline news across USA.
The
story
of
the
'Jim
Twins
'
made
headline
news
across
USA
.
Born to an immigrant woman in 1939, and adopted by different families at birth, both babies were named Jim by their new parents.
Born
to
an
immigrant
woman
in
1939
,
and
adopted
by
different
families
at
birth
,
both
babies
were
named
Jim
by
their
new
parents
.
But what can be the explanation for these remarkable similarities?
But
what
can
be
the
explanation
for
these
remarkable
similarities
?
Is it all pure coincidence, or is the explanation in some way genetic?
Is
it
all
pure
coincidence
,
or
is
the
explanation
in
some
way
genetic
?
Research into the lives of twins is forcing some experts to admit that our personalities may be at least partly due to 'nature'.
Research
into
the
lives
of
twins
is
forcing
some
experts
to
admit
that
our
personalities
may
be
at
least
partly
due
to
'nature
'
.
On the other hand, analysts are also anxious to emphasise that incredible coincidences do happen all the time, not just in the lives of twins.
On
the
other
hand
,
analysts
are
also
anxious
to
emphasise
that
incredible
coincidences
do
happen
all
the
time
,
not
just
in
the
lives
of
twins
.
It is well-known that twins are closer to each other than most brothers and sisters---- after all, they probably spend more time with each other. Parents of twins often notice that they develop special ways of communicating: they invent their own words and one can often finish the other's sentence. In exceptional circumstances, this closeness becomes more extreme: they invent a whole language of their own, as in the case of Grace and Virginia Kennedy from Georgia in the USA, who communicated so successfully in their own special language that they did not speak any English at all until after they started school.  However, these special relationships are the result of lives spent almost entirely in each other's company. What happens when twins do not grow up together, when they are separated at birth for some reason? Are they just like any other strangers, or are there still special similarities between them? Professor Tom Bouchard, of the University of Minnesota, set out to find the answer to this question. He traced sixteen pairs of twins, who were adopted by different families when they were babies, and often brought up in very different circumstances. Each twin was then interviewed about every small detail of their life.  The results of this research make a surprising reading. Many of the twins were found to have the same hobbies, many have suffered the same illnesses, and some have even had the same type of accident at the same point in their lives. One pair of middle-aged women arrived for their first meeting in similar dresses, another pair were wearing similar jewellery. The most incredible similarities are to be found in the case of Jim Springer and Jim Lewis from Ohio in the USA. The story of the 'Jim Twins' made headline news across USA. Born to an immigrant woman in 1939, and adopted by different families at birth, both babies were named Jim by their new parents.  But what can be the explanation for these remarkable similarities? Is it all pure coincidence, or is the explanation in some way genetic? Research into the lives of twins is forcing some experts to admit that our personalities may be at least partly due to 'nature'. On the other hand, analysts are also anxious to emphasise that incredible coincidences do happen all the time, not just in the lives of twins.