From an Associated Press report:

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Study Shows Fraternal Twins Can Share Placenta

Linda A. Johnson
Associated Press
Wednesday, July 9, 2003; 5:02 PM

Contradicting nearly all the medical textbooks, doctors have proven
for the first time that fraternal, or nonidentical, twins can share a
placenta.

Until now, doctors believed that only identical twins -- which come
from a single, split embryo -- can share a placenta, the mass of
tissue inside the uterus that delivers nourishment to the fetus via
the umbilical cord.

In Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine, doctors at the
University of Washington in Seattle reported that a 48-year-old woman
gave birth about two years ago to male and female twins nourished by
the same placenta. Each baby had his or her own umbilical cord and
amniotic sac.

.. . . .

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For more, see, e.g.:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34108-2003Jul9.html?nav=hptoc_h

Nick

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Nick Theodorakis