Identical, fraternal, monozygotic, dizygotic ... One of the first things that people ask about twins is, "What kind are they?" Many people, especially those that don't have twins or multiples, truly don't understand what this means. Twin type actually describes zygosity, the way that the twins formed, either from one egg (monozygotic) or two (dizygotic). Identical (monozygotic) twins don't always look alike, while many fraternal or dizygotic twins actually have very similar appearances. In the past, many twins never knew for sure "what" they were, as their twin type was determined long before they were even born. However, technology makes it increasingly easier for families to confirm their multiples' zygosity (twin type).

Poll: What is the zygosity of your multiples?

• Confirmed monozygotic (identical).
• Suspected monozygotic (identical).
• Confirmed dizygotic (fraternal).
• Suspected dizygotic (fraternal).
• Unknown.
• Mixed - triplets or higher order mulitples that are a combination of monozygotic and dizygotic.

The results may surprise you. See what other parents had to say. View Results