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Conjoined twins are twins whose bodies are joined together at birth. This happens where the zygote of identical twins fails to completely separate. Conjoined twins occur in an estimated one in 200,000 births, with approximately half being stillborn. The overall survival rate for conjoined twins is between 5% and 25%. Conjoined twins are more likely to be female (70-75%).
Conjoined twins in history
The term Siamese Twins comes from what are probably the most famous pair, Chang and Eng Bunker (1811–1874), Chinese brothers born in Siam, now Thailand. The term is frequently used as a synonym for conjoined twins. Chang and Eng were joined by a band of cartilage at the chest (xiphopagus). In modern times, they could be easily separated. For many years they traveled with the Barnum Circus. In the 1840s they married sisters Sarah and Adelaide Yates of North Carolina and purchased two adjoining farm properties just west of Mount Airy, North Carolina. Together they fathered between 20 and 23 children (accounts vary, and in any case, many of the children died in early childhood). The twins would spend three days at one farm then three days at the second farm. They owned slaves and during the American Civil War many of their descendants fought for the Confederacy. In January of 1874, Chang, who was a heavy drinker and had fallen ill with pneumonia, died during the night. Eng also died within a few hours, surrounded by his and his brother's families. Many of their descendants still live in the Mount Airy area.
The earliest known case of conjoined twins dates from the year 945, when a pair of conjoined twin brothers from Armenia were brought to Constantinople for medical evaluation. The English twin sisters Mary and Eliza Chulkhurst, who were conjoined at the back (pygopagus), lived from 1100 to 1134 and were perhaps the best-known early example of conjoined twins. Other early conjoined twins to attain notoriety were the "Scottish brothers", allegedly twins of the dicephalus type (1460–1488; although the dates vary); Helen and Judith of Szony, Hungary (1701–1723), who were pygopagus twins and enjoyed a brief career in music before being sent to live in a convent; and Ritta and Christina Parodi of Sardinia, born in 1829. Ritta and Christina were dicephalus tetrabrachius twins and although they died at only eight months of age, they gained much attention as a curiosity when their parents exhibited them in Paris.
More on [ Conjoined twins ]
If one half of conjoined twins murdered a person, would the courts have to punish both of them?
raziasultan (yitzhak rabin) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:18:48 -0000
If one half of conjoined twins murdered a person, would the courts have to punish both of them?
Do conjoined twins pay taxes once or twice?
AuntiSoup (Sue Sortino) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:51:58 -0000
Do conjoined twins pay taxes once or twice?
@WeAreDOOBZ so you saying me and @abstractbeing are like those conjoined twins and shit??lol
bazzislove (Nigel Shabazz) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 05:55:06 -0000
@WeAreDOOBZ so you saying me and @abstractbeing are like those conjoined twins and shit??lol
RT @BillCorbett: His "tight pants points" were actually two tiny but hyperintelligent conjoined twins who ran his life #bobsegerfacts
CockleStew (Cockle Stew) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:28:05 -0000
RT @BillCorbett: His "tight pants points" were actually two tiny but hyperintelligent conjoined twins who ran his life #bobsegerfacts
His "tight pants points" were actually two tiny but hyperintelligent conjoined twins who ran his life! #bobsegerfacts
BillCorbett (BillCorbett) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:23:04 -0000
His "tight pants points" were actually two tiny but hyperintelligent conjoined twins who ran his life! #bobsegerfacts
i'm watching bones. there's conjoined twins as murder victims. how do they have sex? isn't that awkward?
101110 (Jillian) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:32:03 -0000
i'm watching bones. there's conjoined twins as murder victims. how do they have sex? isn't that awkward?
About.com: Conjoined Twins - Links to informative sites on conjoined twins, also known as siamese twins.
Meta Description: [ Conjoined twins, also known as Siamese twins, are a rare aspect of multiple birth that is covered here with profiles of conjoined twins as well as medical information about the condition. ]
CNN.com: Conjoined Twins and Parents of Conjoined Twins Share Experiences - Transcript of a Larry King Live show, with interviews from the parents of the Stark twins, the Schappell twins as well as a doctor assisting on a separation.
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Conjoined Twins - Contains high quality images and organized information on the different types, rare forms, how they are formed, ethics, and etymology.
Meta Description: [ The world's most informative site on Conjoined Twins. Contains high quality images and organized information on the different types, rare forms, how they are formed, ethics, and etymology. ]
Conjoined Twins - Separation Issues - Information on what conjoined twins are, as well as the ethical and moral issues that arise when separation is considered.
Meta Description: [ Conjoined twins - Jodie and Mary - should doctors or parents decide about separation of conjoined twins? Information and discussion on conjoined twin issues - by Dr Patrick Dixon ]
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Conjoined Twins International - A support group for families with conjoined twins. A fairly inactive group, but the site provides information and links.
Meta Description: [ conjoined twins is a support group for famlies with conjoined twins ]
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Facts About Multiples: Conjoined Twins - Information on conjoined twins throughout the centuries, records of oldest, fastest separation etc. Diagrams on the types of conjoinment, as well as a list of conjoined twins in the world.
Joined: The World of Siamese Twins - History of conjoined twins, separation issues, recent cases, photos and profiles of conjoined twins.
Ratt's Phreeque Show - A collection of pictures and information on various conjoined twins, as well as parasitic twins, the history of conjoined twins in sideshows, as well as other sideshow anomalies.
Meta Description: [ Welcome to Ratt's Freakshow, a virtual collection of photos and bios of famous and not-so-famous human oddities. This site is always growing, so check in regularly to see updates and new features! ]
Separated at Birth - Interview with Charles and Charleu Tenorio, born in 1973 in north-east Brazil. They were separated at nine months of age. [The Guardian]
Social History of Conjoined Twins - An essay detailing the history of conjoined twins, with pictures and case studies.
Twinstuff.com: Conjoined Twins - An essay on the types of conjoined twins, as well as pictures of some famous sets.
Meta Description: [ twinstuff.com. Your Source for Information on Twins and Other Multiples on the Web ]
Types of Conjoined Twins - A breakdown of the types of conjoined twins, and what the types consist of.
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