What Are Siamese Twins?

Siamese twins are identical twins with a difference. Identical twins are formed from the same fertilised egg which splits into two just after fertilisation. An embryo grows from each of the two cells and both babies are genetically identical.

This describes Siamese twins but, because the egg cell split incompletely into two just after fertilisation, the two embryos grow but remain joined together. Sometimes this joining is superficial but in other cases it is very severe. Some Siamese twins have been born sharing important organs, making it impossible for one to live without the other. Today, surgeons attempt to separate Siamese twins whenever they can.

Siamese twins are so-called because of the famous twins Eng and Chang, born in 1811, and the first pair of conjoined twins to be described. They were born in Siam, now Thailand and were joined at the shoulder and chest. They remained joined until their death in old age.

Quite an interesting work on nature's behalf, Siamese Twins are babies who are joined together at birth.  A bridge of flesh is their main source of fusion, primarily resulting in both of the twins sharing the same blood circulatory systems.

The Siamese Twins got their name from a place called 'Siam', which had such twins.  The occurrence was a marvel in itself and so unique that later on the twins were showed and exhibited to the world for many years in the nineteenth century, their birthplace being the main source of earning their name from.

In the recent era, technology advancements and various other developments in the field of medicine and surgery has enabled doctors to separate Siamese Twins at birth without any perils or trepidation involved.  The operations don't affect the twins' future lives either as just like regular human beings they are able to lead perfectly normal lives.

Babies that are born stuck to each other