Twins were the norm for our ancient primate ancestors − one baby at a time had evolutionary advantages

By: Tesla Monson, Western Washington University and Jack McBride, Yale University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: December 13, 2025

Words: 1,100

Last Updated: 4 weeks, 1 day ago

By Tesla Monson, Western Washington University and Jack McBride, Yale University

Twins have been rare in human history and for that reason can seem special. Many cultures associate twins with health and vitality, while others see them as a philosophical reminder of the duality of life and death, good and evil. Some famous twins are credited with the birth of nations, others are described as deities.

Our recent research suggests that

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