Research Paper on:
Overview of Conjoined Twins

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
it is hoped that in the future, this defect may be prevented. With the advance in modern medicine, a clearer picture has emerged on the probable causes, prevention, treatments, as  well as opportunities for conjoined twins. WHAT CAUSES THE DEFECT? Conjoined twins are identical twins who develop from a single egg, which then separates incompletely. The twins share the  same placenta and are always the same sex. The exact causes are still in the speculation phase. "The reasons for genetics and embryology of conjoined twinning is unclear and speculative,"  explained Professor Jonathan Peter with the University of Cape Town(Mondaypaper 2003). Some of that speculation has included hypothesis about genetic influence to environmental factors. Many experts believe that the advance  in medical technology has actually allowed more conjoined twins to survive the birthing process and so more conjoined twins make it to term. Unlike other twinning which occurs, conjoined  twins begin to separate, but then fail to complete the process. Most experts have noticed that this occurs if the separation begins after the thirteenth day after fertilization(Twins 2003). Some  fascinating work has been done where conjoining has been artificially generated in various amphibians such as frogs and salamanders. The way that it is induced is to constrict the embryo  so that two embryos form, one on either side of the constriction point(Twins 2003). One may deduce from these early studies, then, that at some point, the developing embryo suffers  some sort of constriction in utero, which causes an indecisive division to occur. For now, however, no one really knows why some babies are born physically joined. WHAT IS  THE QUALITY OF LIFE? Conjoined twins face an uncertain life. Most die shortly after birth, unable to fully sustain one body, let