Nancy Segal: The science behind the fascination of twins reared apart from birth

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How are twins used in scientific research, and why are they important? Why are some twins separated at birth, and how are they discovered? Why is there widespread fascination with twins, twin reunions and their behaviors? What are some surprising findings from reared-apart twin research?

There always has been so much fascination about twins and their psychology. In particular, even though twins can be separated apart from birth, live in completely different parts of the world and still develop similar personalities?

Scientific studies using twins, especially twins reared apart, reveal a great deal about the factors affecting human behavioral and medical characteristics. Twins have also been a great source of excitement for members of the general public, especially since twinning rates in western nations have doubled in the last thirty-five years. Nancy Segal will survey studies of reared apart twins, with a focus on the origins, methods, findings, conclusions and controversies of the Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart (MISTRA), launched in 1979 at the University of Minnesota.

[Video and text source: Science & Cocktails You Tube channel]