Explain if quadruplets-four babies born at one birth are always identical or always fraternal, or if they can be either.
If one zygote splits and each of these split, all will be identical. If two eggs (ovulated at approximately the same time) are separately fertilized, and the zygotes from these split, half will be fraternal and half identical.
I have never heard of 4 eggs being ovulated at the same time. However, if that happened, and all were fertilized, all would be fraternal.
Quadruplets, which refer to the birth of four babies at one time, can be either identical or fraternal. It is crucial to note the distinction between identical and fraternal multiples.
Identical quadruplets occur when a single fertilized egg, also known as a zygote, splits into four separate embryos. As a result, all four babies share the same genetic material, making them genetically identical. Identical quadruplets are relatively rare, accounting for around 1 in 11 million births.
On the other hand, fraternal quadruplets (also known as non-identical quadruplets) occur when four separate eggs are fertilized by four different sperm. Each embryo then develops independently, resulting in four genetically distinct babies. Fraternal quadruplets are more common than identical ones.
Determining whether a set of quadruplets is identical or fraternal is typically done through genetic testing. In some cases, physical characteristics like facial features or blood type similarities can provide initial clues. However, these methods are not foolproof, and genetic testing is the most accurate way to confirm whether the babies are identical or fraternal.
Hence, it is essential to understand that quadruplets can be either identical or fraternal, and genetic testing is usually required to determine their zygosity accurately.