‘It’s super weird, super odd, super rare’: meet the twins who have different dads
Lavinia and Michelle, 49, are twins who discovered through DNA tests at age 45 that they have different fathers, a rare phenomenon known as heteropaternal superfecundation. Despite their different personalities and life paths, they have always shared a close bond forged through a difficult childhood. Their case is the first documented instance of this biological occurrence in the UK.
- ▪Lavinia and Michelle took DNA tests from Ancestry at age 45, which revealed they have different fathers.
- ▪They are the first known case in the UK of heteropaternal superfecundation, where two eggs are fertilized by sperm from different men during the same cycle.
- ▪Fewer than 20 cases of twins with different fathers have been documented worldwide, and most are only discovered through DNA testing.
- ▪The twins had a turbulent childhood, frequently changing homes and caregivers, but always relied on each other for support.
- ▪Though not identical, they share striking similarities in their life choices, such as launching different businesses around the same time and moving abroad within a similar timeframe.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Lavinia (on left) and Michelle: ‘I had my sister. It was her and me against the world.’ Photograph: Alice Mann/The GuardianView image in fullscreenLavinia (on left) and Michelle: ‘I had my sister. It was her and me against the world.’ Photograph: Alice Mann/The GuardianFamily‘It’s super weird, super odd, super rare’: meet the twins who have different dads When DNA test results shattered everything Lavinia and Michelle thought they knew about their family history, they also revealed something never before documented in the UKJenny KleemanSat 2 May 2026 01.00 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleI like being a twin. It defines who I am,” Lavinia Osbourne tells me on the 49th birthday she shares with her sister, Michelle.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Guardian — Science.
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