Who Smarted? – “What types of Twins are there?”

Episode Date: November 12, 2025
Host: Adam Tex Davis
Guests: Ella & Emma (Twin sisters)

Episode Overview

This episode of “Who Smarted?” takes listeners on an entertaining and fact-filled journey to explore all things twins: what makes twins unique, the different types of twins, how they’re formed, how they help scientists, common myths, and some truly surprising trivia. With playful interactions and clever storytelling, host Adam Tex Davis, joined by real-life twin guests Ella and Emma, answers kids’ biggest questions about twins—delivering science, history, and plenty of laughs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Twin Cities and Introduction (00:00 – 03:39)

• Setting the Scene: Adam jokes about being in a "state," playfully referencing Minnesota (“Mini Soda”), leading into a discussion about Minneapolis and St. Paul—the “Twin Cities.”
  • Quote: “A tiny carbonated beverage could be a mini soda. Mini soda? Minnesota. What? That was fun for me.” (Adam, 01:18)
• Transition: Adam moves from geographic twins to “people who are twins,” introducing Ella and Emma, the twin guests.

What Are Twins? (03:57 – 04:34)

• Definition:
  • Twins are siblings born a short time apart, usually sharing the same birthday.
  • Rare Case: Possible for twins to have different birthdays (e.g., born on either side of midnight).
    • Quote: “What if one twin is born at 11:59pm and the next twin is born 20 minutes later at 12:19am or the following day?” (Ella/Emma, 04:25)

How Common Are Twins? (04:34 – 05:24)

• Stat: About 2% of the world’s population are twins.
  • “That means two out of every hundred people are twins, which is kind of rare.” (Adam, 04:40)

Types of Twins (05:24 – 07:23)

• Identical Twins:

  • Genetically the same, look almost exactly alike, and usually the same gender.
    • “Everyone in the world is genetically unique except for identical twin siblings.” (Ella/Emma, 05:37)

• Fraternal Twins:

  • Developed from separate ova (eggs), genetically distinct like regular siblings; can be different genders.
    • “Fraternal twins are more like regular siblings than identical twins.” (Adam, 06:04)

• How Type Is Determined:

  • Decided before birth based on egg formation.

Science and Twin Studies (07:23 – 08:27)

• Why Twins Matter in Science:
  • Twins help scientists understand the difference between genetics (nature) and environment (nurture).
  • “Scientists collect information about the similarities and differences between twins to try and figure out which traits are influenced more strongly by environmental or genetic factors.” (Ella/Emma, 07:32)
• Modern Twin Studies: Focus on preventing/treating complex diseases by comparing twins’ genetics and life experiences.

Differences & How to Tell Types Apart (08:27 – 09:50)

• Identical Twins Aren’t Truly Identical:

  • Environmental factors and small DNA changes cause physical differences (e.g., more freckles, height differences).
    • “Differences can still be caused by environmental factors and small changes in our DNA.” (Ella/Emma, 08:49)

• Which Type is Most Common?

  • Fraternal twins are about twice as common (2 out of 3 pairs).
  • Most common pairing: boy/girl fraternal twins.

• How to Know for Sure:

  • DNA/genetic testing is definitive (can be done before or after birth, painless cheek swab).

Special Twin Facts & Myths (09:50 – 14:23)

• Do Identical Twins Have Identical Fingerprints?

  • No, everyone has unique fingerprints—even identical twins. (12:06)
    • “Footprints too. That’s one way to tell us apart.” (Ella/Emma, 12:06)

• Mirror Twins:

  • Subtype of identical twins with mirrored features (e.g., left- and right-handedness, or birthmarks on opposite sides).
    • “Mirror twins look like a mirror reflection, only they're two separate people.” (Ella/Emma, 12:33)

• Mind Reading Myth:

  • Twins can’t literally read each other’s minds but often share a strong, intuitive bond from growing up together.
  • “We’re not really reading each other’s mind with any special power. It’s just that twins usually share a really special and super close relationship.” (Ella/Emma, 13:31)

• School and Development:

  • Some twins experience separation anxiety in early school years, but most adjust to being in different classes around age 6 or 7.

• Can You Predict Having Twins?

  • Fraternal: Runs in families/more likely for older moms or through specific fertility treatments.
  • Identical: Occurs randomly; cannot be predicted.
    • “While having fraternal twins can run in families, the chance of having identical twins is random and can’t be predicted.” (Ella/Emma, 14:29)

Twins in the Animal Kingdom (14:43 – 15:46)

• Animals Can Have Twins Too!
  • Many mammals and even birds can have twins—especially goats, sheep, cattle, and horses.
  • Most animal twins are fraternal; DNA testing needed to confirm.

Fun & Memorable Moments (15:46 – 16:50)

• Own Twin Language:
  • Some twins create their own language as kids. Ella and Emma used theirs and now use it annually for “National Twins Day.”
    • Quote: “Ella and I had our own language when we were younger. ...now we only use it on December 18th.” (Ella/Emma, 15:58)
  • National Twins Day revealed (not their birthday, as Adam guessed).
• Riddle:
  • A scenario where twins are born in different years—a twin born on New Year’s Eve, one on New Year’s Day.

Notable Quotes / Memorable Moments

• On Twin Cities:

  • “The name of the state could be used to describe a tiny carbonated beverage...A mini soda. Minnesota.” (Adam, 01:18)

• On Twin Birthday Rarity:

  • “What if one twin is born at 11:59pm and the next twin is born 20 minutes later at 12:19am or the following day?” (Ella/Emma, 04:25)

• On Identical Twins:

  • “Identical twins are almost always born the same gender, and they're probably what most people think of when they think of twins.” (Ella/Emma, 05:44)

• On What Makes Twins Special for Science:

  • “Twin studies have shown that in most cases, a person's genes and their environment both have a lot to do with the person they become.” (Ella/Emma, 08:08)

• On Identical Twins’ Differences:

  • “If you look closely, I have a few more freckles than Emma, and I'm just a hair taller.” (Ella/Emma, 08:33)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:01–02:47 – Introduction and Twin Cities joke
• 03:57–04:34 – What makes twins different from other siblings
• 05:24–07:23 – Identical vs. Fraternal twins explained
• 07:23–08:27 – Why scientists study twins
• 09:11–09:50 – How to tell what kind of twin you are
• 12:06–12:21 – Identical twins don’t have the same fingerprints
• 12:21–13:12 – Mirror twins and other fun variations
• 13:31–13:48 – Mind reading myth debunked
• 14:29–14:51 – Genetics, family history, and having twins
• 15:00–15:46 – Animal twins
• 15:58–16:11 – Twin language & National Twins Day
• 16:11–16:47 – New Year’s riddle about twins being born in different years

Episode Tone and Style

The episode balances humor, science, and relatability, speaking directly to curious kids. The host’s playful, pun-filled delivery is balanced by the twins’ lively, knowledgeable (and sometimes sassy) responses. Science and trivia blend seamlessly into everyday kid-friendly conversation.

Summary

This episode of “Who Smarted?” squeezes maximum fun and science out of the topic of twins—covering what makes twins unique, the biology behind twin types, why twins are so important to science, and even debunking common twin myths. Whether you’re a twin, know a twin, or just curious, you’ll walk away with a bundle of fascinating facts, memorable jokes, and new things to wonder about.