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Researchers have long known that women whose families include fraternal twins are more likely to give birth to twins themselves, and they're finally starting to figure out why. After scanning data from nearly 2000 mothers of fraternal twins, scientists from eight countries found two genes that increase a woman's chance of having twins-one that affects hormone levels and another that may alter how ovaries respond to them. The second of these may also have implications for why some women respond better than others to in vitro fertilization.

Graham Williams at the University of Huddersfield, UK, has a different way - to look for modifications to the twins' DNA that have come about as a result of their lifestyles. Such epigenetic changes occur when a chemical group known as a methyl group attaches to a gene and modifies the way it is expressed. This happens as a body is influenced by a person's environment, lifestyle and disease.

An Indiana woman undergoing surgery in Los Angeles to remove a tumor experienced a twist worthy of a sci-fi plot when doctors discovered an embryonic twin in her brain.

This video excerpt from NOVA uncovers the genetic mystery that nearly killed Alexis, now 14, and introduces the debate surrounding genetic testing at birth. After diagnosing Alexis and her twin brother Noah with cerebral palsy at a young age, doctors later discovered that the twins shared a rare genetic mutation that led to a condition that mimics cerebral palsy. The twins improved after receiving treatment, but then Alexis took a turn for the worse. Thanks to whole genome sequencing, doctors discovered a second problem linked to the mutation and gave her a different treatment that saved her life.

"Some of the most exciting things that we've seen from looking at gene expression in space is that we really see an explosion, like fireworks taking off, as soon as the human body gets into space," Twins Study principal investigator Chris Mason said in a statement.

Researchers tested pairs of identical and non-identical twins to see how attractive they were to mosquitoes. Identical twins were more likely to have similar levels of attractiveness - suggesting shared genetic factors were at play. The "intriguing" results must now be assessed in larger trials, experts say. Researchers have long tried to understand what drives mosquitoes to bite certain people more than others. Recent work shows the insects may be lured to their victims by body odour.

Summary of mouse study looking at neurogenerative differences in mice.

The 18-year-olds from Gloucester, U.K. are two of the five children born to their Caucasian father and "half-Jamaican" mother, World Wide Features reports. While their other siblings have a blend of features from their parents, Lucy and Maria are opposites: Lucy has fair skin and red hair, while Maria has caramel skin and dark hair.

The relative importance of nature and nurture has been debated for centuries, and has had strong - and sometimes misguided - influences on public policy.

5 minute video by Neil Tyson illustrating impact of epigenetics among twins

Epigenetics 9:28 video explained by Hank using circus twin analogy.

13 minute video on twins and epigenetics

Why did you get the flu this winter, but your co-workers didn't? The answer, according to a new study of twins, may have less to do with your genes and more to do with your environment-including your past exposure to pathogens and vaccines. Our immune system is incredibly complex, with diverse armies of white blood cells and signal-sending proteins coursing through our veins, ready to mount an attack on would-be invaders. Everyone's immune system is slightly different-a unique mixture of hundreds of these cells and proteins. But the main driver of this variation is unclear. Although scientists know that our immune system can adapt to our environment-that's why vaccines work, for instance-it is also built by our genes.

Published on Mar 19, 2015 : The twins were becoming sicker and sicker but no one knew why. Finally, through genomic sequencing, this baffling mystery was solved. Please Visit: http://unlockinglifescode.org/media/v...

On September 15, the Washington University School of Medicine published a study in The American Journal of Psychiatry revealing that schizophrenia, commonly thought of as a single mental disorder, is actually a group of eight distinct afflictions. People with schizophrenia are typically diagnosed in their 20s, which is when symptoms (such as delusions and hallucinations) begin to manifest. The brain disorder affects about 1 percent of the population, and it is highly genetic: According to the NIH, having a relative diagnosed with schizophrenia increases one's chances of developing the disorder by 10 percent, while having an identical twin with the disorder raises the risk to 40 to 65 percent.

Over the past few decades, genetic research has revealed two deep truths about people. The first is that all humans are closely related-more closely related than all chimps, even though there are many more humans around today. Everyone has the same collection of genes, but with the exception of identical twins, everyone has slightly different versions of some of them. Studies of this genetic diversity have allowed scientists to reconstruct a kind of family tree of human populations. That has revealed the second deep truth: In a very real sense, all people alive today are Africans.

The projects you will find here have been curated by BIE and were gathered from online project libraries. These projects are meant to inspire your own ideas or may be adapted to fit the needs of your classroom.

This case study presents the fictional tale of two neighboring towns that have recently experienced a growth boom and are now suffering the environmental consequences. The case provides an opportunity to explore a wide variety of anthropogenic causes of natural capital degradation. Students are assigned the role of scientists working for the regional Department of Environmental Resources Management, and it is their job to discover the underlying causes for a wide variety of citizen complaints and to suggest reasonable and cost effective solutions. The case may be assigned as a recap activity after teaching a unit on natural capital degradation. The case includes a PowerPoint presentation as well as three lab activities that are included in the teaching notes. The case would be appropriate for high school or lower level undergraduate ecology or environmental science courses.

Since this time, research has focused on biological factors that may lead to autistic behaviours. This has found very clearly there is no one cause of autism. A variety of genetic factors are likely to be the ultimate cause of most cases of autism. These may work by themselves, or in combination with environmental factors, to lead a child's brain to develop differently and result in autistic behaviours.