let’s talk about twins twins turn heads wherever they go sing two identical
wherever they go sing two identical
wherever they go sing two identical infants children or adults is
infants children or adults is
infants children or adults is irresistible causing us to peer into
irresistible causing us to peer into
irresistible causing us to peer into baby carriages staring to playgrounds
baby carriages staring to playgrounds
baby carriages staring to playgrounds and even ask rather personal questions
and even ask rather personal questions
and even ask rather personal questions such as who was older who was smarter
such as who was older who was smarter
such as who was older who was smarter and who decides what both of you will do
and who decides what both of you will do
and who decides what both of you will do as if everything twins do is exactly the
as if everything twins do is exactly the
as if everything twins do is exactly the same Society tells us that we all differ
same Society tells us that we all differ
same Society tells us that we all differ in appearance and behavior so when we
in appearance and behavior so when we
in appearance and behavior so when we encounter two people who look and act so
encounter two people who look and act so
encounter two people who look and act so much alike it challenges our belief and
much alike it challenges our belief and
much alike it challenges our belief and the way that the world works but we find
the way that the world works but we find
the way that the world works but we find ourselves intrigued and drawn into twins
ourselves intrigued and drawn into twins
ourselves intrigued and drawn into twins lives trying to understand them for most
lives trying to understand them for most
lives trying to understand them for most of human history psychologists believe
of human history psychologists believe
of human history psychologists believe that we were largely products of our
that we were largely products of our
that we were largely products of our environment but twin research is
environment but twin research is
environment but twin research is teaching us that so many more of our
teaching us that so many more of our
teaching us that so many more of our behaviors than we ever would have
behaviors than we ever would have
behaviors than we ever would have imagined are influenced by the genes
there are two kinds of twins identical
there are two kinds of twins identical and fraternal and both are essential and
and fraternal and both are essential and
and fraternal and both are essential and twin research identical twins result
twin research identical twins result
twin research identical twins result when a single fertilized egg divides
when a single fertilized egg divides
when a single fertilized egg divides within the first 14 days after
within the first 14 days after
within the first 14 days after conception and these twins share all
conception and these twins share all
conception and these twins share all their genes in common fraternal twins
their genes in common fraternal twins
their genes in common fraternal twins share half the genes on average just
share half the genes on average just
share half the genes on average just like ordinary brothers and sisters and
like ordinary brothers and sisters and
like ordinary brothers and sisters and they result when a woman releases two
they result when a woman releases two
they result when a woman releases two eggs at the same time that is separately
eggs at the same time that is separately
eggs at the same time that is separately fertilized by two separate sperm we can
fertilized by two separate sperm we can
fertilized by two separate sperm we can compare the similarity of identical
compare the similarity of identical
compare the similarity of identical twins in running speed or and how fast
twins in running speed or and how fast
twins in running speed or and how fast they solve math problems – the
they solve math problems – the
they solve math problems – the similarity of fraternal twins and if
similarity of fraternal twins and if
similarity of fraternal twins and if identical twins are more alike and they
identical twins are more alike and they
identical twins are more alike and they usually are this tells us the genes play
usually are this tells us the genes play
usually are this tells us the genes play an important role
an important role
an important role now most studies use identical twins
now most studies use identical twins
now most studies use identical twins raised together but studying the rare
raised together but studying the rare
raised together but studying the rare pairs of identical twins reared apart is
pairs of identical twins reared apart is
pairs of identical twins reared apart is even better because if identical twins
even better because if identical twins
even better because if identical twins raised apart are as alike as identical
raised apart are as alike as identical
raised apart are as alike as identical twins raised together this is even more
twins raised together this is even more
twins raised together this is even more compelling evidence that genes are
compelling evidence that genes are
compelling evidence that genes are important in our development think about
important in our development think about
important in our development think about the identical gym twins Jim Lewis and
the identical gym twins Jim Lewis and
the identical gym twins Jim Lewis and Jim Springer who grew up in different
Jim Springer who grew up in different
Jim Springer who grew up in different Ohio cities they didn’t meet until they
Ohio cities they didn’t meet until they
Ohio cities they didn’t meet until they were nearly 40 and they discovered that
were nearly 40 and they discovered that
were nearly 40 and they discovered that both twins bit their fingernails down to
both twins bit their fingernails down to
both twins bit their fingernails down to the nub they both drove light blue
the nub they both drove light blue
the nub they both drove light blue Chevrolet’s they both had mixed headache
Chevrolet’s they both had mixed headache
Chevrolet’s they both had mixed headache syndromes beginning in their teenage
syndromes beginning in their teenage
syndromes beginning in their teenage years and they both liked to vacation on
years and they both liked to vacation on
years and they both liked to vacation on the same three-block strip of beach in
the same three-block strip of beach in
the same three-block strip of beach in Florida the Jim twins also both named
Florida the Jim twins also both named
Florida the Jim twins also both named their sons James Allen now James is a
their sons James Allen now James is a
their sons James Allen now James is a fairly common first name but Allen is a
fairly common first name but Allen is a
fairly common first name but Allen is a much less common first or second name
much less common first or second name
much less common first or second name both of the twins had worked part-time
both of the twins had worked part-time
both of the twins had worked part-time in sheriff’s offices and part-time at
in sheriff’s offices and part-time at
in sheriff’s offices and part-time at McDonald’s and they loved to scatter
McDonald’s and they loved to scatter
McDonald’s and they loved to scatter love-letters around the house for their
love-letters around the house for their
love-letters around the house for their wives and in a curious twist both twins
wives and in a curious twist both twins
wives and in a curious twist both twins had married women named Linda divorced
had married women named Linda divorced
had married women named Linda divorced em and married women named Betty
but then one of the Jim twins divorced
but then one of the Jim twins divorced Betty and married sandy we know the
Betty and married sandy we know the
Betty and married sandy we know the divorce is a partly genetically
divorce is a partly genetically
divorce is a partly genetically influenced trait so you could imagine
influenced trait so you could imagine
influenced trait so you could imagine the worry and the part of the remaining
the worry and the part of the remaining
the worry and the part of the remaining Betty now what about the twins Jack and
Betty now what about the twins Jack and
Betty now what about the twins Jack and Oscar they had dramatically different
Oscar they had dramatically different
Oscar they had dramatically different environments but even that did not
environments but even that did not
environments but even that did not prevent them from amassing a whole list
prevent them from amassing a whole list
prevent them from amassing a whole list of similarities that surpassed even
of similarities that surpassed even
of similarities that surpassed even those of the Jim twins Jack was raised
those of the Jim twins Jack was raised
those of the Jim twins Jack was raised Jewish by his father in Trinidad and
Jewish by his father in Trinidad and
Jewish by his father in Trinidad and Oscar was raised Catholic by his
Oscar was raised Catholic by his
Oscar was raised Catholic by his grandmother in Nazi Germany and when
grandmother in Nazi Germany and when
grandmother in Nazi Germany and when they met for the first time they
they met for the first time they
they met for the first time they discovered that both twins like to wear
discovered that both twins like to wear
discovered that both twins like to wear rubber bands around the wrists they
rubber bands around the wrists they
rubber bands around the wrists they thought it was funny to sneeze loudly in
thought it was funny to sneeze loudly in
thought it was funny to sneeze loudly in elevators they both washed their hands
elevators they both washed their hands
elevators they both washed their hands before and after using the toilet and
before and after using the toilet and
before and after using the toilet and they both read books from back to front
they both read books from back to front
they both read books from back to front and they hated floral centerpieces
and they hated floral centerpieces
and they hated floral centerpieces because they said it blocked the view of
because they said it blocked the view of
because they said it blocked the view of the person seen it across the table how
the person seen it across the table how
the person seen it across the table how do we explain these similarities well it
do we explain these similarities well it
do we explain these similarities well it could be that reading books from back to
could be that reading books from back to
could be that reading books from back to front suggests impatience or a sneezing
front suggests impatience or a sneezing
front suggests impatience or a sneezing loudly an elevator is a cry for
loudly an elevator is a cry for
loudly an elevator is a cry for attention but regardless the fact that
attention but regardless the fact that
attention but regardless the fact that we see these similarities repeated in
we see these similarities repeated in
we see these similarities repeated in identical twins so much more than
identical twins so much more than
identical twins so much more than fraternal twins tells us that genes do
fraternal twins tells us that genes do
fraternal twins tells us that genes do play a role Dorothy and Brigitte reared
play a role Dorothy and Brigitte reared
play a role Dorothy and Brigitte reared apart twins in Great Britain they show
apart twins in Great Britain they show
apart twins in Great Britain they show us that you don’t have to live with
us that you don’t have to live with
us that you don’t have to live with somebody to be like them you only have
somebody to be like them you only have
somebody to be like them you only have to share their genes when they met for
to share their genes when they met for
to share their genes when they met for the first time as adults both twins were
the first time as adults both twins were
the first time as adults both twins were wearing seven rings three bracelets and
wearing seven rings three bracelets and
wearing seven rings three bracelets and a watch and the similarities did not
a watch and the similarities did not
a watch and the similarities did not stop there the twins described
stop there the twins described
stop there the twins described themselves as short-tempered disciplined
themselves as short-tempered disciplined
themselves as short-tempered disciplined and strict they liked the same brand of
and strict they liked the same brand of
and strict they liked the same brand of perfume they liked the same kinds of
perfume they liked the same kinds of
perfume they liked the same kinds of books they had worn nearly identical
books they had worn nearly identical
books they had worn nearly identical dresses to their weddings and carried
dresses to their weddings and carried
dresses to their weddings and carried nearly identical floral bouquets
they remind me of the identical reared
they remind me of the identical reared apart twins mark and Jerry mark and
apart twins mark and Jerry mark and
apart twins mark and Jerry mark and Jerry grew up in different cities in New
Jerry grew up in different cities in New
Jerry grew up in different cities in New Jersey and they didn’t meet until they
Jersey and they didn’t meet until they
Jersey and they didn’t meet until they were in their early 30s they were both
were in their early 30s they were both
were in their early 30s they were both volunteer firefighters but their
volunteer firefighters but their
volunteer firefighters but their signature quirk was holding a can of
signature quirk was holding a can of
signature quirk was holding a can of Budweiser beer with the pinky finger
Budweiser beer with the pinky finger
Budweiser beer with the pinky finger underneath and you can see that they
underneath and you can see that they
underneath and you can see that they also carried huge key rings they attach
also carried huge key rings they attach
also carried huge key rings they attach to their belts bells had huge buckles on
to their belts bells had huge buckles on
to their belts bells had huge buckles on them they both threw their heads back
them they both threw their heads back
them they both threw their heads back sharply when they laughed they were six
sharply when they laughed they were six
sharply when they laughed they were six foot four bald and heavily moustached
foot four bald and heavily moustached
foot four bald and heavily moustached and when I took them out to dinner I
and when I took them out to dinner I
and when I took them out to dinner I discovered they had a shared passion for
discovered they had a shared passion for
discovered they had a shared passion for Chinese food and for steak served
Chinese food and for steak served
Chinese food and for steak served extremely rare and I also studied
extremely rare and I also studied
extremely rare and I also studied Barbara and Daphne the giggle twins my
Barbara and Daphne the giggle twins my
Barbara and Daphne the giggle twins my colleagues and I affectionately call
colleagues and I affectionately call
colleagues and I affectionately call them that because when they met for the
them that because when they met for the
them that because when they met for the first time they discovered that they
first time they discovered that they
first time they discovered that they laughed uncontrollably with each other
laughed uncontrollably with each other
laughed uncontrollably with each other and with nobody else and they had the
and with nobody else and they had the
and with nobody else and they had the same crooked pinky fingers the same
same crooked pinky fingers the same
same crooked pinky fingers the same disinterest in politics and they drunk
disinterest in politics and they drunk
disinterest in politics and they drunk they drank their coffee cold black and
they drank their coffee cold black and
they drank their coffee cold black and without sugar these twins had had a
without sugar these twins had had a
without sugar these twins had had a first miscarriage in their first
first miscarriage in their first
first miscarriage in their first pregnancy followed by two healthy boys
pregnancy followed by two healthy boys
pregnancy followed by two healthy boys and a daughter that may not be so
and a daughter that may not be so
and a daughter that may not be so surprising because female physiology may
surprising because female physiology may
surprising because female physiology may in fact the sex of our children and in
in fact the sex of our children and in
in fact the sex of our children and in this case the physiology was perfectly
this case the physiology was perfectly
this case the physiology was perfectly matched shortly after they met they
matched shortly after they met they
matched shortly after they met they concocted a drink called twin sin that
concocted a drink called twin sin that
concocted a drink called twin sin that was made of vodka Blue Curacao creme de
was made of vodka Blue Curacao creme de
was made of vodka Blue Curacao creme de cacao and cream my colleagues and I
cacao and cream my colleagues and I
cacao and cream my colleagues and I thought it was a little curious but the
thought it was a little curious but the
thought it was a little curious but the twins thought it was just delicious I
twins thought it was just delicious I
twins thought it was just delicious I finally want to mention two sets of
finally want to mention two sets of
finally want to mention two sets of identical twins males born in Columbia
identical twins males born in Columbia
identical twins males born in Columbia South America one pair from the city one
South America one pair from the city one
South America one pair from the city one pair from the country we don’t know how
pair from the country we don’t know how
pair from the country we don’t know how this half
this half
this half but early on and the premature nursery
but early on and the premature nursery
but early on and the premature nursery one newborn twin was accidentally
one newborn twin was accidentally
one newborn twin was accidentally exchanged with one newborn twin in the
exchanged with one newborn twin in the
exchanged with one newborn twin in the other pair so these two sets of brothers
other pair so these two sets of brothers
other pair so these two sets of brothers grew up thinking they were fraternal
grew up thinking they were fraternal
grew up thinking they were fraternal twins when in fact they were completely
twins when in fact they were completely
twins when in fact they were completely genetically unrelated when they were 25
genetically unrelated when they were 25
genetically unrelated when they were 25 the truth was discovered and the real
the truth was discovered and the real
the truth was discovered and the real pairs were reunited I went down to
pairs were reunited I went down to
pairs were reunited I went down to Bogota to study them and I discovered
Bogota to study them and I discovered
Bogota to study them and I discovered that the personalities of the reunited
that the personalities of the reunited
that the personalities of the reunited twins aligned almost perfectly in one
twins aligned almost perfectly in one
twins aligned almost perfectly in one case the twins were outgoing gregarious
case the twins were outgoing gregarious
case the twins were outgoing gregarious risk-taking and in the other case they
risk-taking and in the other case they
risk-taking and in the other case they were introverted little cautious a
were introverted little cautious a
were introverted little cautious a little restrained again we don’t fully
little restrained again we don’t fully
little restrained again we don’t fully understand the reasons behind these
understand the reasons behind these
understand the reasons behind these similarities but seeing them repeated in
similarities but seeing them repeated in
similarities but seeing them repeated in identical twins more so than fraternal
identical twins more so than fraternal
identical twins more so than fraternal twins gives us a genetic perspective on
twins gives us a genetic perspective on
twins gives us a genetic perspective on human development now we need to think
human development now we need to think
human development now we need to think seriously about these findings because
seriously about these findings because
seriously about these findings because they have huge implications for how we
they have huge implications for how we
they have huge implications for how we raise our children and how we can all
raise our children and how we can all
raise our children and how we can all make the best of our abilities our goals
make the best of our abilities our goals
make the best of our abilities our goals and our dreams now in my experience
and our dreams now in my experience
and our dreams now in my experience parents of one child are
parents of one child are
parents of one child are environmentalists and parents of two
environmentalists and parents of two
environmentalists and parents of two children are geneticists and I say that
children are geneticists and I say that
children are geneticists and I say that because parents of two children realize
because parents of two children realize
because parents of two children realize rather quickly that what works for one
rather quickly that what works for one
rather quickly that what works for one child doesn’t work for the other and
child doesn’t work for the other and
child doesn’t work for the other and that’s because children come into the
that’s because children come into the
that’s because children come into the world with their own genetic
world with their own genetic
world with their own genetic predispositions that lead them towards
predispositions that lead them towards
predispositions that lead them towards certain activities and places and
certain activities and places and
certain activities and places and opportunities parents have to have
opportunities parents have to have
opportunities parents have to have realistic expectations about each
realistic expectations about each
realistic expectations about each child’s – dancing parents may not have a
child’s – dancing parents may not have a
child’s – dancing parents may not have a dancing child because even though each
dancing child because even though each
dancing child because even though each parent shares half their genes with the
parent shares half their genes with the
parent shares half their genes with the child genes get reshuffled in each
child genes get reshuffled in each
child genes get reshuffled in each generation you know I tell parents you
generation you know I tell parents you
generation you know I tell parents you don’t really bring up your children they
don’t really bring up your children they
don’t really bring up your children they bring you up because each child evokes
bring you up because each child evokes
bring you up because each child evokes certain treatments and certain responses
certain treatments and certain responses
certain treatments and certain responses from each of their parents a child with
from each of their parents a child with
from each of their parents a child with athletic abilities should be given
athletic abilities should be given
athletic abilities should be given opportunities to play sports an artistic
opportunities to play sports an artistic
opportunities to play sports an artistic child should be given opportune
child should be given opportune
child should be given opportune to paint and to draw and a shy child
to paint and to draw and a shy child
to paint and to draw and a shy child should be given opportunity to speak up
should be given opportunity to speak up
should be given opportunity to speak up more encouraged gently to do so in this
more encouraged gently to do so in this
more encouraged gently to do so in this way parents can make a huge difference
way parents can make a huge difference
way parents can make a huge difference in the lives of their children and I
in the lives of their children and I
in the lives of their children and I also want to acknowledge the teachers
also want to acknowledge the teachers
also want to acknowledge the teachers and the mentors and the managers who
and the mentors and the managers who
and the mentors and the managers who works though closely with twins and
works though closely with twins and
works though closely with twins and others and affect their lives as a
others and affect their lives as a
others and affect their lives as a psychology professor I identified a very
psychology professor I identified a very
psychology professor I identified a very promising undergraduate student one who
promising undergraduate student one who
promising undergraduate student one who showed real ability talent and drive but
showed real ability talent and drive but
showed real ability talent and drive but he was the first in his family to go to
he was the first in his family to go to
he was the first in his family to go to college and he lacked guidance and
college and he lacked guidance and
college and he lacked guidance and opportunity I work with his students on
opportunity I work with his students on
opportunity I work with his students on a number of projects and today he is an
a number of projects and today he is an
a number of projects and today he is an advanced graduate student at the
advanced graduate student at the
advanced graduate student at the prestigious University of Michigan back
prestigious University of Michigan back
prestigious University of Michigan back to our twins twins are not just mere
to our twins twins are not just mere
to our twins twins are not just mere objects of fascination just by being
objects of fascination just by being
objects of fascination just by being themselves just by acting naturally to
themselves just by acting naturally to
themselves just by acting naturally to give science a powerful tool for
give science a powerful tool for
give science a powerful tool for understanding genetic and environmental
understanding genetic and environmental
understanding genetic and environmental influences on behavior and in this way
influences on behavior and in this way
influences on behavior and in this way they tell us about our humanity why we
they tell us about our humanity why we
they tell us about our humanity why we are the way that we are and how we got
are the way that we are and how we got
are the way that we are and how we got that way thank you
that way thank you
that way thank you [Applause]
”
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