Nexus - 0106 - New Times Magazine-pages

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,dentical twins have always caused other for the first time. They discovered they Both flush the toilet before and after using it; people to look in fascination at the were both terrified of heights, were compul- _store rubber bands on their wrists and read strangeness that two identical people sive calculators (if they saw a truck they over meals, which they prefer to eat alone. have; individuals who appear to be one counted the wheels on it); both suffered from They dip buttered toast into their coffee and person claustrophobia and had both worked for the —_ read magazines from back to front. Both like : same cosmetics firm. They both had such an _to scare people in lifts by sneezing loudly, About a third of the world's estimated 100 aversion to water that they sat with theirbacks have moustaches and wear wire-rimmed million twins are monozygotic -identical, totheoceanwhenvisiting thebeach. They got glasses. coming from a single fertilized egg which a pain in the same spot in the right leg in wet divides into two in utero. These twins are _—_ weather. Most twins start to develop their own identical in every genetic detail, right down to individual personalities by their early teens. birthmarks and fingerprints. Differences be- In 1979 Bridget Harrison and Dorothy However, some twins fail in this separation tween them must be shaped by the individuals Lowe Giecoyeres they were identical twins. and continue to grow as if they are one person. aa Peon nn A Than An OT Re le, hansealiae aud aca neal dentical twins have always caused other for the first time. They discovered they Both flush the toilet before and after using it; | people to look in fascination at the were both terrified of heights, were compul- _store rubber bands on their wrists and read ‘strangeness that two identical people sive calculators (if they saw a truck they over meals, which they prefer to eat alone. counted the wheels on it); both suffered from They dip buttered toast into their coffee and claustrophobia and had both worked for the —_ read magazines from back to front. Both like same cosmetics firm. They both had such an _to scare people in lifts by sneezing loudly, About a third of the world's estimated 100 aversion to water that they sat with theirbacks have moustaches and wear wire-rimmed million twins are monozygotic -identical, totheoceanwhenvisiting thebeach. They got glasses. coming from a single fertilized egg which a pain in the same spot in the right leg in wet have; individuals who appear to be one person, divides into two in utero. These twins are _—_ weather. Most twins start to develop their own identical in every genetic detail, right down to individual personalities by their early teens. birthmarks and fingerprints. Differences be- In 1979 Bridget Harrison and Dorothy However, some twins fail in this separation tween them must be shaped by the individuals Lowe discovered they were identical twins. and continue to grow as if they are one person. themselves and are exclusively non-genetic. | They found bizarre synchronicity ren through Greta and Freda Chaplin are one of the But there exists a strange world between _ their lives. They had married within ayear of _ best examples of this phenomenon. Discov- these twins, and a stranger one exists between each other and had wom identical wedding _ered in 1980 at the age of 38, they were identical twins who, foronereasonoranother, dresses, One had called her son Richard _ brought before a magistrate in York, England were separated at birth and brought uptotally Andrew and the other Andrew Richard, for harassing a neighbour. What fascinated apart, usually without the knowledge ofeach Bridget’s daughter was called Catherine the psychiatrists and journalists was that the other's existence. Louise, Dorothy’s was Karen Louise twins spoke in what appeared to be precise The “Jim Twins" are a fascinating ex- (Dorothy wanted to call her Katherine, but synchronisation. On further investigation ample of separated identical twins. At five calledherKarentopleasearelative).Bothhad more examples of their behaviour implied weeks they were adopted by differentfamilies studied piano to the same grade and stopped _they were effectively one person.They were a who were each told the other twinhaddied at —_ after taking the same exams. Both collected familiar sight in York and kids, believing birth. Ke/sed 130 kms apart they eventually —_ soft toys, had cats called Tiger and had con- _ them to be witches, threw stones and spat at met when they were 39 years old. tracted meningitis. They both keptadiary for them. Adults went out of their way to avoid Both boys were named James, both grew oneyear-1960-andthediarieswerethesame them. up with adopted brothers called Larry. Both make and colour.The entries they had made They both wore identical grey coats; one were good at maths and hated spelling and matchedday forday.Bothworesevenbangles _ originally came with green buttons, the other both had owned dogs called Troy. Both had on one wrist and a watch and bracelet onthe —- with grey. They automatically cut off two married girls called Linda, divorced and then _ other. buttons each; now both coats have two green married “Bettys”. Their first sons werenamed and two grey. When they were given different respectively, James Allan and James Alan. 1 j coloured gloves they simply took one from Both families holidayed at the sare small Sy = chron ised Tw Ins each pair. A gift of different coloured bars of beach in St Petersburg, Florida for years, soap caused them real anguish and they burst driving there in Chevrolets. Both Jims had Qe of the most striking cases of highly _ into tears. The problem was solved when the worked as petrol pump attendants, deputy synchronised separated twinsisthatof{Oscar bars were cut in half. sheriffs, and at one time in the same ham- Stohr and Jack Yufe, born in Trinidad in 1933 burger chain. They shared the same nail bit- and separated shortly afterwards when their 1 ‘ ing, eating, drinking and sleeping habits and _— parents quarreled. Oscar went to Germany Mirror Imaging both shared the same hobbies ofcarpentryand _with his mother where he became an ardent They also exhibit “mirror imaging”, charac- technical drawing. Nazi. With profound irony Jack was reareda _teristically found in monozygotic twins, Jeanette Hamilton and Irene Reid were Jew by his father, attending synagogue. They _In typical cases of mirror imaging, one twinis putup for adoption in 1944 by their unmarried met each other 46 years later anc disgovered _—right handed, the other left; whorls of hair mother. In August 1979, the sisters meteach _ their habits were identical. grow clockwise in one and anti-clockwise in 1 NEXUS New Times Six - Spring 1988 other for the first time. They discovered they were both terrified of heights, were compul- sive calculators (if they saw a truck they counted the wheels on it); both suffered from claustrophobia and had both worked for the same cosmetics firm. They both had such an aversion to water that they sat with their backs to the ocean when visiting the beach. They got a pain in the same spot in the right leg in wet weather. Both flush the toilet before and after using it; store rubber bands on their wrists and read over meals, which they prefer to eat alone. They dip buttered toast into their coffee and read magazines from back to front. Both like to scare people in lifts by sneezing loudly, have moustaches and wear wire-rimmed glasses. people to look in fascination at the strangeness that two identical people have; individuals who appear to be one twins have always caused person, Abouta third of the world’s estimated 100 million twins are monozygotic -identical, coming from a single fertilized egg which divides into two in utero. These twins are identical in every genetic detail, right down to birthmarks and fingerprints. Differences be- tween them must be shaped by the individuals themselves and are exclusively non-genetic. But there exists a strange world between these twins, and a stranger one exists between identical twins who, for one reason or another, were separated at birth and brought up totally apart, usually without the knowledge of each other's existence. The “Jim Twins" are a fascinating ex- ample of separated identical twins. At five weeks they were adopted by different families who were each told the other twin had died at birth. Ke/sed 130 kms apart they eventually met when they were 39 years old. Both boys were named James, both grew up with adopted brothers called Larry. Both were good at maths and hated spelling and both had owned dogs called Troy. Both had married girls called Linda, divorced and then married “Bettys”. Their first sons werenamed respectively, James Allan and James Alan. Both families holidayed at the sare small beach in St Petersburg, Florida for years, driving there in Chevrolets. Both Jims had worked as petrol pump attendants, deputy sheriffs, and at one time in the same ham- burger chain. They shared the same nail bit- ing, eating, drinking and sleeping habits and both shared the same hobbies of carpentry and technical drawing. Jeanette Hamilton and Irene Reid were put up for adoption in 1944 by their unmarried mother. In August 1979, the sisters met each Most twins start to develop their own individual personalities by their early teens. However, some twins fail in this separation and continue to grow as if they are one person. Greta and Freda Chaplin are one of the best examples of this phenomenon. Discov- ered in 1980 at the age of 38, they were brought before a magistrate in York, England for harassing a neighbour. What fascinated the psychiatrists and journalists was that the twins spoke in what appeared to be precise synchronisation. On further investigation more examples of their behaviour implied they were effectively one person. They were a familiar sight in York and kids, believing them to be witches, threw stones and spat at them. Adults went out of their way to avoid them. They both wore identical grey coats; one originally came with green buttons, the other with grey. They automatically cut off two buttons each; now both coats have two green and two grey. When they were given different coloured gloves they simply took one from each pair. A gift of different coloured bars of soap caused them real anguish and they burst into tears. The problem was solved when the bars were cut in half. In 1979 Bridget Harrison and Dorothy Lowe discovered they were identical twins. They found bizarre synchronicity ren through their lives. They had married within a year of each other and had wor identical wedding dresses, One had called her son Richard Andrew and the other Andrew Richard, Bridget’s daughter was called Catherine Louise, Dorothy's was Karen Louise (Dorothy wanted to call her Katherine, but called her Karen to please arelative). Both had studied piano to the same grade and stopped after taking the same exams. Both collected soft toys, had cats called Tiger and had con- tracted meningitis. They both kept a diary for one year - 1960 - and the diaries were the same make and colour.The entries they had made matched day for day. Both wore seven bangles on one wrist and a watch and bracelet on the other. Twins One of the most striking cases of highly synchronised separated twins is that of Oscar Stohr and Jack Yufe, bom in Trinidad in 1933 and separated shortly afterwards when their parents quarreled. Oscar went to Germany with his mother where he became an ardent Nazi. With profound irony Jack was reared a Jew by his father, attending synagogue. They moet each other 46 years later anc discovered their habits were identical. Mirror Imaging They also exhibit “mirror imaging”, charac- teristically found in monozygotic twins, In typical cases of mirror imaging, one twin is right handed, the other left; whorls of hair grow clockwise in one and anti-clockwise in Synchronised 10 NEXUS New Times Six - Spring 1988