Conjoined twins occur once every 200,000 live births. They develop from a single fertilized egg that fails to separate completely in the first few weeks after conception. Overall, 5-25% of conjoined twins survive after birth. Some notable examples include Chang and Eng Bunker from Thailand in the 1800s who were joined at the chest and had 21 children combined before dying hours apart, and Brittany and Abby Hensel who were born in 1990 in Minnesota and share parts of major organs but lead relatively independent lives.

1. By AFacts AboutConjoined Twins

2. ContentSlide Three – Facts Slide Four – Formed Slide Five – Growth Slide Six – Chang and Eng BunkerSlide Seven – Brittany and Abby Hensel Slide Eight – Ronnie and Donnie Galyon Slide Nine – The End of the slide show

3. Facts Facts Birth of conjoined twins, whose skin and internal organs are fused together are rare.

4. Conjoined twins occur once every 200,000 live births.

5. Overall survival rate of conjoined twins is some where between 5 and 25 percent .Formed Formed * Conjoined twins are genetically identical.They are always the same sex.

6. They develop from the same fertilized egg.

7. They share the same amniotic cavity and placenta. Growth Growth * The woman only produces a single egg, which does not fully separate after fertilization.*The developing embryo starts to split into identical twins during the first few weeks after conception, but stops before the process is complete.*The practically separated egg develops into a conjoined foetus.

8. Well KnownConjoined TwinsChang and Eng Bunker Born 1811 died 1874Thai brothers born in Siam. They were joined at the sternum by a small piece of cartilage.Both married and had 21 children between them.Chang died of pneumonia but Eng refused to be separated and died three hours later.

9. Brittany and Abby HenselThe Hensels were born In 1990. In Carver County, USA.Brittany’s head is about 15 degrees laterally outward, Abby’s is only 5 degrees They graduated High School in 2008 and they now go to college.