NOT IDENTICAL!

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I know confirmed identical twins that look as different as, if not more different than, them.

There are sometimes differences between identical twins, but unless some type of major environmental difference has occurred, the visible differences are typically minute. That doesn't seem to be the case with the Sprouse twins. Although parents sometimes know before birth whether or not their twins are identical, that is not always the case; in fact, it's actually quite rare. Most parents don't have the tests done before or after birth, and the question of "fraternal or identical" is usually a judgement call based on appearance at birth--when they are most similar. Most parents never confirm it via DNA testing; they just get in the habit of thinking one way or another over time. These boys were raised together in virtually the same environment, so any visible differences should be barely noticeable (and not distinguishable at all by most folks outside their immediate family), but they are vastly different--FAR too different to have come from a single fertilized egg. Of course, it doesn't really matter. It's not a big deal--just a curiosity. Still, they are fraternal--not identical.

Doctor's determine whether twins are identical or not before birth. If they are identical, they share a placenta, if not, there are two placentas. You should really do some research before talking about a subject you are just speculating about. There are scientific articles that state that identical twins do not always look identical.

Identical twins may or may not share a placenta; it depends on when the split occurs. As noted, there are sometimes subtle differences between genetically identical twins, but unless there is an awfully big difference in environment (or a major injury or something of that nature), they won't be as disparate as these two are. Siblings who are years apart are often more similar than these two brothers, and without a major difference in environment to explain it, the only logical answer is that they are, in fact, fraternal. As for doing my research, I not only come from a medical family but also one that has a plethora of twins--at least one set in five straight generations. Of course, that's sheer happenstance and not in any way genetic.

This is pretty much one of the stupidest things I've ever seen anyone try and argue about.
They're obviously identical. End of story.

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Tonight we ride on clouds of fire

Think what you want but they're identical. The Olsen twins are fraternal??? I had no idea all these years....I couldn't tell them apart until they were 18. LOL. But there ya go, twins can be a mystery: identical twins don't always look identical and fraternal twins can look like they're indentical. So what?

Monique
"...stop *beep* with me, makes me wanna SCREAM..."~Michael Jackson