Environment and Twins

Title

Environment and Twins

Creator

Basavaraju, Preethi; Balamuralikrishnan, Dhanalakshmi; Meyyazhagan, Arun; Tosto, Valentina; Di Renzo, Gian Carlo

Description

Twins provide a unique context for studying the interaction between genetics and the environment on human traits. Monozygotic (MZ) twins share nearly identical genetic material, and dizygotic (DZ) twins share about 50% are influenced by environmental factors, especially during prenatal development. Chorionicity, or whether twins share the same placenta, plays a key role in shaping their in utero environment, influencing risks such as unequal nutrient distribution and conditions like twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Postnatally, shared environments and lifestyles can further affect twin development, although their susceptibilities may lead to different outcomes. Factors like maternal nutrition, exposure to toxins, and prenatal care are critical, particularly in the context of neural tube defects (NTDs), where both genetic and environmental influences, such as parental occupation, maternal obesity, and folic acid deficiency, play a role. Understanding these risks is vital for preconception counseling and effective pregnancy management to optimize outcomes for twins. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

Source

Twins Lifelong Health: From Prenatal to Adult Life;pp.301-312

Date

01-01-2026

Publisher

Springer Nature

Subject

Genetics; Intrauterine environment; Maternal nutrition; Perinatal outcomes; Twin pregnancy

Coverage

Basavaraju P., Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore, India; Balamuralikrishnan D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Nursing, Keerrai Thamil Selvan College of Nursing (Affiliated To: Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University), Tamil Nadu, Pudukkottai, India; Meyyazhagan A., Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Karnataka, Bengaluru, India; Tosto V., Giannina Gaslini Childrens Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Genoa, Italy; Di Renzo G.C., PREIS International School, Florence, Italy, GLOWM, London, United Kingdom

Rights

Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library

Relation

ISBN: 978-303209464-3; 978-303209463-6;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Book chapter

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-09464-3_19

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105032522736?origin=resultslist