The word "biovular" is derived from the prefix "bio-", meaning "life", and the word "ovular", pertaining to the ovary or egg. The correct spelling is /baɪˈɒvjʊlə/, with the stress on the second syllable. The "o" in "ovular" is pronounced as /ɒ/ and the "u" in "ular" is pronounced as /juːlə/. The word refers to twins who are each conceived from a separate egg, rather than from the splitting of a single fertilized egg, which is known as monozygotic or identical twins.
The term "biovular" refers to the phenomenon in human reproduction where twins are conceived from the fertilization of two separate eggs, each by a different sperm. This results in the birth of dizygotic (fraternal) twins who are not genetically identical but share the same maternal DNA.
When a woman's ovaries release multiple eggs during ovulation, and both eggs are fertilized during the same menstrual cycle by two different sperm, it leads to the development of two embryos within the uterus. These embryos may implant separately and develop independently, resulting in the birth of biovular twins.
Biovular twins can be of the same or different genders, and they share 50% of their DNA, just like any pair of non-twin siblings. They may display different physical characteristics and traits because of their individual genetic makeup. It is important to note that biovular twins are simply siblings who happen to be born at the same time, rather than being identical twins who originate from a single zygote that splits into two during early development.
The occurrence of biovular twinning is influenced by various factors, including ethnicity, maternal age, family history, and assisted reproductive technologies. It is estimated that the prevalence of biovular twins is approximately 70% among all twin pregnancies, making it the most common type of twinning.
The word "biovular" does not have a widely accepted etymology as it is a relatively recent term with a specialized meaning. It is derived from the combination of two roots: "bio-" meaning life or living organisms, and "vular" derived from the Latin word "vulva" which refers to the external female genitalia.
In genetics and reproductive biology, "biovular" is used to describe twins who develop from two separate fertilized eggs (zygotes) and are thus non-identical or fraternal twins. This term is used to distinguish them from "monozygotic" or identical twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits into two. The term "biovular" is specifically used to indicate the non-identical nature of the twins, highlighting that they have different genetic backgrounds.