Page 2 | Why do my identical twins not look identical?

Ratbag7 · 2025-10-12T19:29:56+00:00

They are 12 and I think each look quite unique, but they have recently been diagnosed as being identical twins through a DNA check. I read somewhere that “environmental factors” can sometimes mean that identical twins don’t look exactly identical. Anyone got any insight into this? Thanks

youalright · 12/10/2025 22:55

We have identical twins in the family and to me they look nothing a like but the reality is they do look the same and others not as close get them mixed up all the time. Its hard to explain unless you know identical twins well

Original poster

Ratbag7 · 13/10/2025 18:15

PalePinkPeony · 12/10/2025 22:14

OP can other people tell them apart easily? They will always look different you and close family.
My identical twins also didn’t share anything in utero and I was told, like you they wernt identical. Got them DNA tested as I was fed up of no one being able to tell them apart except us parents.
Mine look very similar to everyone else but different to me! The question I get asked most is ‘how can you tell them apart’ to which I always think- because they look very different!
I was curious when they were younger- if they share DNA, how come they arnt exactly the same- with the same strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes, same shape face etc. right from when they were born they had different personalities. It was explained to me like this: think of DNA as a bowl of cereal- everyone is a different cereal. Their cereal is Muslei- the same cereal but each bowl is different- one has more currants, one more nuts, one fewer oats etc.
Thats how it works with identical twins. Different variations of the exact same DNA. pretty fascinating when you look into it.

I love this, exactly what I was looking for! I also had the DNA testing online recently as was so fed up of everyone saying they were identical- and they were 🙈 They don’t look identical to me, have completely different personalities (one like me, one like my DH), friends, likes and dislikes, etc. they have two older siblings so maybe that dilutes the whole twin thing down. They weren’t arsed at all about the DNA result! But made me feel odd as have always treated them as not identical!

OP posts:

FuzzyWolf · 13/10/2025 18:46

Gwenhwyfar · 12/10/2025 20:56

"I think it’s fairly normal for close family to easily tell identical twins apart"

Yes, if you know someone well you can distinguish them from their identical twin, but you can still usually tell they're identical!

What the OP says suggests that others did see that they were identical: I was sick of people saying they were identical when I thought they were not

Gwenhwyfar · 13/10/2025 19:56

FuzzyWolf · 13/10/2025 18:46

What the OP says suggests that others did see that they were identical: I was sick of people saying they were identical when I thought they were not

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They may be people who didn't know them very well at all.
I had twin friends who didn't look similar at all. My DF mixed them up, but for him they were just two blonde little girls with the same parents...
Nobody close to them would have thought they were identical.

PalePinkPeony · 13/10/2025 20:23

Ratbag7 · 13/10/2025 18:15

I love this, exactly what I was looking for! I also had the DNA testing online recently as was so fed up of everyone saying they were identical- and they were 🙈 They don’t look identical to me, have completely different personalities (one like me, one like my DH), friends, likes and dislikes, etc. they have two older siblings so maybe that dilutes the whole twin thing down. They weren’t arsed at all about the DNA result! But made me feel odd as have always treated them as not identical!

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Must be so strange! I got my two tested at 18 months and even thinking they were non identical (and telling everyone they wernt) was strange when I found out. Let alone 10 years!
Honestly the amount of people I’ve met who either have twins or who are a ‘non identical twin’ themselves but look extremely similar who have absotlely no idea that they are in fact probably identical. When I tell them that yes, it’s possible for twins with seperate sacs and placentas to be identical they are astounded! I then tell them get a DNA test. Happened many times over the last 11 years

Iloveeverycat · 13/10/2025 20:48

Why did you need a dna test so see if they were identical. Any idea why the Dr's thought they weren't identical.

villish · 13/10/2025 21:05

I have 3 sets of identical twin friends and have always been able to tell them apart. My friend has identical twins that I don’t see often and I can’t tell them apart

Cattenberg · 13/10/2025 21:12

I thought it was to do with pairs of genes. One gene of each pair will be "switched on" and the other will be switched off and is only needed as a back up. This happens randomly. So even if twins have identical genes, the same ones won't be active in both twins.

BertieBotts · 13/10/2025 21:30

I think facial expression and mannerism can really change how someone's face looks. Have you ever seen the series Orphan Black? (Highly recommend it if not, brilliant series!) One actress plays multiple characters in it, and they all look and come across really distinct. Obviously a lot of that is make up and hair and different ways of dressing (which your twins might have some of too) but a lot of it is the way that she holds herself and the expressions she makes.

Or if you think about any actor who is known for having an extremely wide range, and can portray extremely different characters so well you'd believe it was a different person. (David Tennant is good at this).