Identical twins, formed when one fertilized egg splits, are the only people in the world with identical DNA. Fraternal twins, on the other hand, are formed when two different eggs are fertilized. Genetically speaking, Fraternal twins develop from separate eggs & are no more closely related than ordinary siblings, except that they spend 9 months sharing only about 50% of their genes.

Traits determined by phenotype, such as fingerprints and physical appearance, are the result of “the interaction of the individual’s genes & the developmental environment in the uterus.”

Thus, a DNA test can’t determine the difference between identical twins, while a simple fingerprint can. !

“There is as yet no evidence that the arrangement of the minutiae (ending ridges, bifurcating ridges, etc.) is in any way genetically influenced,“

writes fingerprint expert James Cowger. Presumably these minor but crucial differences arise from random local events during fetal development, the same kind of thing that makes each snowflake unique.

So, Do identical twins have different fingerprints?

The Answer is definitely YES.