X-inactivation patterns in monozygotic and dizygotic female twins.

We have tested the hypothesis that contrasting X-inactivation patterns could be a trigger for monozygotic twinning in females. X-inactivation patterns were studied in umbilical cord tissue in 43 monozygotic twin pairs and 24 dizygotic twin pairs. Very skewed or non-random X-inactivation patterns were observed in both twins in six of the monozygotic twin pairs and in one of the dizygotic twin pairs. Contrasting X-inactivation patterns occurred in only one of the six monozygotic twin pairs. This does not support the original hypothesis. There is a trend to extreme skewing of X-inactivation pattern occurring more frequently in monozygotic twins.