Because twins have identical sets of genetic code, the symptoms that they experience once infected with SARS CoV-2 will also be identical. True Or False The Reality of SARS-CoV-2 on Twins: True or False

The Reality of SARS-CoV-2 on Twins: True or False

It is widely understood that twins are genetically identical, so many wonder if the symptoms they experience when infected with SARS CoV-2 will also be identical. The answer to this question is both yes and no. While twins may both be exposed to the virus and experience similar symptoms, this does not necessarily mean that their symptoms will be identical. The primary reason why the symptoms will not be the same is because the environment of the twins’ bodies can be very different. This includes other viruses they may have been exposed to, their diet, and stress levels. Research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that “genetic predisposition to infectious diseases may be modified by environmental and lifestyle factors” (Ren, et al., 2021). This means that even though the twins share the same genetic code, their individual environments can lead to different experiences with the virus. In addition, research from the University of Michigan (2020) found that even identical twins can experience different levels of severity when it comes to COVID-19. This is because even though the twins have the same genetic code, each of their bodies will react differently to the virus based on their individual immune systems and other environmental factors. Cont….