Facts about Twins

Ok, I know this is cheating and not really writing my own piece but I thought it might be a bit interesting

•The scientific study of twins is known as "gemellology." The word twin is probably derived from an ancient German word twine. which means 'two together.'
•Worldwide there are at least 125 million living multiples.
•The average time between the delivery of the first and second twin is 17 minutes (mine was 9 mins!!)


•Nigeria has the highest rates of multiples with more identical twins than fraternal. while China has one of the lowest with multiple births occurring one in 300 births.
•The largest surviving complete set is of septuplets (in US). Three complete sets of sextuplets survive in the UK (6 girls in 1983. 3 boys and 3 girls in 1986 and 1 boy and 5 girls in 1993).
 •Incredible fact: In 1853. a peasant named Kirilow was presented to the empress of Russia as he had been married twice and his wives gave birth to 72 children including 4 sets of quads. 8 sets of triplets and 8 sets of twins ! (was he on benefits!!)

•The Yoruba tribe of Nigeria have the highest twinning rate in the entire world (3 sets of twins in every 19 births). The Nigerian people attribute it to their population's consumption of a specific type of yam. Scientists have discovered that these colourful vegetables contain a high level of a substance that is similar to the hormone oestrogen. which could bring on multiple ovulation. Chief Adeyemisays "It's an honour to be so-called Baba or Iya Ibeji Father or mother of twins because they are a special breed from God." (do you think they'll prescribe it on the NHS)
 •Multiple births in UK has been on the rise: birth of twins has risen almost 50% from 1984 - 2004 (latest data).



Celebrities who have had Twins



Dennis Quaid


P Diddy, aka Sean Combes


Nancy Sorrell and Vic Reeves.


Holly Hunter
 Al Pacino


Television sport presenter Gabby Logan and former Scotland rugby star husband Kenny


Four Weddings and a Funeral and Sliding Doors star John Hannah


Geena Davis


Julia Roberts


Judy Finnegan


Cybil Shepherd


Jane Seymour


Muhammad Ali


Robert De Niro


Michael J. Fox


William Shakespeare


Mel Gibson


Margaret Thatcher


George W. Bush


Nat King Cole


Mia Farrow


Julio Iglesias


Tony Curtis


Alex Ferguson


Donald Sutherland


Denzel Washington


Ben Elton


Jack Dee


Pele


Paul Merson (footballer)


Gordon Ramsay


Fern Britton


Dean Gaffney


Ron Howard



Celebrities/famous people from history who ARE a twin/triplet:


Alanis Morissette


Ashton Kutcher


David Jason had a twin brother who died at birth


Duffy, Welsh soul singer (twin sister Katy)


Elvis Presley, (twin brother Jesse Garon died at birth)


Gisele Bündchen, supermodel has a fraternal twin sister Patrícia


Henry Cooper, British boxer (twin brother George)


Jason Orange, member of Take That (twin brother Justin)


Jay Kay, singer (twin brother died at birth)


Jerry Hall, American model and actress (twin sister, Terry)


Jim Broadbent, actor (twin sister died at birth)


Joseph Fiennes, actor (twin brother, Jacob)


Justin Timberlake is a twin - he had a twin sister, Laura Katherine, who died minutes after birth. He mentions her sometimes in the liner notes of *NSYNC albums.


Karen Elson, supermodel (fraternal twin sister Kate)


Kate Lawler, BB3 winner and TV presenter has a twin sister Karen


Kiefer Sutherland, actor (twin sister Rachel)


Keith Chegwin, TV presenter has a twin brother, Jeff


Linda Hamilton, actress (id sister Leslie, who played the "T-1000 Sarah" in Terminator 2)


Martin and Gary Kemp, actors and former Spandau Ballet members


Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, actors


Matt and Luke Goss - 80's pop idols Bros


Maurice and Robin Gibb, The Bee Gees, (Maurice died 2003)


Ronnie and Reggie Kray (notorious gangsters)


Scarlett Johansson, actress (twin brother Hunter)


Shayne Ward, Singer & X-Factor winner has a twin sister Emma


Vin Diesel, actor (fraternal twin brother Paul Vincent)