Pronunciation: [jˌuːnɪˈɒvjʊlə] (IPA) 
The word "uniovular" is spelled with a unique combination of letters. The prefix "uni-" means "one" and "ovular" pertains to an "egg." This term refers to twins who come from the same egg, rather than two different ones. The pronunciation of "uniovular" written in phonetic transcription is /ˌjuːniˈɒvjʊlə/. It stresses the first syllable "u-ni" and "ovular" is pronounced "aw-vyuh-ler" with the "u" as in "up" and "e" as in "her."
Uniovular is an adjective that is primarily used in the field of biology and genetics. It refers to a condition in which an organism, typically twins, are derived from a single fertilized egg, resulting in genetically identical individuals. This term is specifically used to describe the phenomenon of monozygotic twinning.
In uniovular twins, also known as identical twins, the zygote undergoes a process of cleavage, dividing into two separate embryos. These embryos share the same genetic information, meaning they have identical DNA. As a result, uniovular twins display striking similarities in appearance, including physical features, blood type, and tissue compatibility.
The occurrence of uniovular twinning is estimated to be around 0.3% to 0.4% of all live births. Factors such as maternal age and genetic predisposition can influence the likelihood of uniovular twinning.
It is worth noting that the term uniovular is typically used in contrast to the term "biovular," which refers to dizygotic (non-identical) twins. Unlike uniovular twins, biovular twins arise from two separate eggs fertilized by two different sperm, resulting in siblings with distinct genetic makeup.
Overall, the term uniovular is an important concept in genetics and highlights the fascinating phenomenon of identical twinning.
The word uniovular is derived from Latin and Greek roots.
The Latin prefix uni- means one or single, indicating something that is singular or unique.
The Latin root ovum means egg, referring to the reproductive structure produced by female animals.
Finally, the suffix -ar is used in English to form adjectives, indicating pertaining to or characterized by.
Therefore, when these elements are combined, uniovular literally means pertaining to one egg or characterized by a single egg.
