My Twin and I Took a Genetic Test—We Have No DNA in Common. What Now?

A Reddit user shared their confusion and anxiety after taking a genetic test with their twin sister, only to discover they didn’t share any DNA. While their twin’s results aligned with their family’s European background, the user’s results showed a completely different genetic makeup, raising questions about their biological connection.

Despite discussing the issue with their family, no one has provided clear answers, and the user is left feeling unsure about their identity and family history. To find out more about how others have approached such situations, read the full story below.

‘ My Twin and I Took a Genetic Test—We Have No DNA in Common. What Now?‘

My twin and I are fraternal twins. Recently, we took a genetic test for fun, because we wanted to see what we shared and the differences between us. Since we still share genes, fraternal twins are like siblings genetically. My grandparents had suggested the tests and got them for us,so our parents didn’t know about it.

But our results made no sense. My twin’s was coming up almost completely as Eastern European and Western European. Which makes sense, as most of my family are Croatian, German, or Austrian. So all of that would be accurate. But mine wasn’t anything like that.

It was almost completely Scandinavian, with some Russian and a couple of other places. Neither of which were on my twin’s result, she had a very small percentage of Scandinavian but that was it. And we had no matched DNA. Which clearly seemed impossible. We were literally twins, we have to share DNA.

My twin said they must have mixed my sample up with someone else. We ended up contacting the company, and my twin and I took a test again. It was the same result. Both my twin and I were really confused. We told our grandparents, and they just said that was interesting, and said nothing else.

My twin said we should tell our parents, and see if they had ever done a genetic test, or if any of our siblings had, and then we could see if somehow ours were still right. I mean, it kind of made sense I’d have Scandinavian, because I’m much taller than my mother, and quite a bit taller than my twin and I’m way better at football and handball than she is.

And I’m very blonde compared to the rest of my family, but I had thought it was the German. When we told our mother, they reacted almost the same way as my grandparents, but she seemed annoyed. And said that they’re inaccurate anyway, and our grandparents shouldn’t have told us to take one.

And when we asked our father, he basically said nothing. I’m confused. I know my twin thinks it’s just a mistake, but I don’t think so. We have to share DNA, about 50%. That’s how twins and siblings work. Even though we’re fraternal, we should still share quite a bit of DNA.

But other explanations don’t make sense. My mother can’t have cheated on my father, because my twin and I would still share DNA. Just less, because we would have different fathers. The results mean we can’t share a parent, or even be related.

But I don’t see why my parents would adopt me if I’m not their child, when I don’t think they’ve ever been to Scandinavia and why they’d adopt a baby that’s almost exactly the same age as their baby. I’m panicking.

The person I’m closest with in the whole world, who I thought I even shared the womb with, might not even be related to me. My birthday might not even be real. None of this makes any sense, and no one is telling me the truth.

I’m also scared my twin might tell her boyfriend about it, and then people might end up knowing that I’m some kind of fraud and my family isn’t my family at all.

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

crypto_for_bare_toes −  Have you pressed your grandparents to tell you more? Cuz it sounds like they suspected this and wanted you know. No way did they suggest those tests out of the blue. “Your grandparents shouldn’t have told you to do that” says it all IMO

muttoneer −  Clearly your grandparents know something and went against your parents’ wishes in providing a clue. Hard to know if it was trying to be helpful or malicious without knowing more about them.

Maybe both of your parents ended up with a kid the same age from different (possibly tragic?) circumstances and decided to raise them as twins for their own reasons. We can only speculate. Either way, I’d reassure your parents and sister that you view them as your family no matter what and (if they are not giving it already), probably seek the same reassurance.

nick4424 −  Sit your grandparents down and tell them to start talking. They obviously know what’s going on. But I guessing that you were adopted from a family friend who might’ve died or didn’t want to be a mother. Ask for your birth certificate. That should have your real parent’s names on there.

NotTrynaMakeWaves −  There were two sets of ‘fraternal’ twins in Colombia that turned out to have been two sets of identical twins where one of each had been swapped in the hospital. You need to get parental DNA test done asap. University researchers LOVE swapped twins.

graces-taylor12 −  can we talk about the fact that your mom’s reaction was “annoyed”? Like, sorry Mom, didn’t mean to inconvenience you with the whole existential crisis thing.

Dear_Parsnip_6802 −  Swapped at birth, incorrect ivf embryo implant, adoption, incorrect DNA test. There really aren’t that many possible solutions. I’d be telling your parents that you fully intend on investigating until you find the answer.

If they know something and continue lied, they may damage your relationship. If they tell you the truth, now you can go on this journey of discovery together and hopefully maintain a relationship.

Obstructing yiu will only delay the inevitable. You will find out! Tell them you are not letting this go. You have the right to know your heritage. If the claim it’s the test is the problem ask them to conduct a proper one with theirs and yours for your peace of mind.

Complete_Entry −  “That’s interesting” is a b**lshit response. Interrogate.

[Reddit User] −  If your grandparents suggested the tests, they gave you an important hint toward something. If you don’t share DNA, you’re not actually twins nor related at all. Was one of you adopted? Switched at birth?

CorinaCorinaCorina −  Random possibility that was just mentioned to me in IVF discussions with my doctor. It is technically possible, I believe (I am not a doctor or geneticist or anything of the sort) that you could have have been an implanted embryo from donor egg and donor sperm,

and your mother also ovulated naturally and was impregnated by your father at the same time, resulting in two babies at the same time who are technically not biologically siblings. IVF can involve a lot of hormones to stimulate egg production and increase fertility so it seems plausible.

If someone knows for sure if this is not possible please comment because I’m really curious now. Alternately, you could both be IVF babies and it was a mixed up embryo situation, where they got one embryo from the biological parents and one that technically belonged to another set of parents.

A small, private clinic could definitely provide IVF options, and some people feel that it’s a very personal or even shameful thing to participate in. I’m pursuing it now so obviously I don’t agree with that.

Worth noting that there was the documentary with the doctor who used his own sperm to impregnate a bunch of IVF patients, and that other documentary (Three Identical Strangers) where twins and multiples were purposely split up across different households at different economic levels as part of a whole experiment. Weird s**t happens all the time!

Whatcrysis −  The biggest concern here is not the DNA but the reaction to the results. Your grandparents acted as though it just confirmed what they knew. Your father was either uninterested or feigned, with no interest. Your mother was upset.

So there is definitely a family secret that everyone knows or suspects but doesn’t talk about. You have two options. Scientific or discussion. I suspect the discussion will be quicker but may open wounds. Or you could check other databases for a match. Secrets never stay buried. And I don’t think you’ll want to leave this one in this state.. Good luck