Identical twins in Indiana gave birth eight hours apart in the same hospital last week. This sounds contrived, or like a National Inquirer newsfeed, but actually speaks more to the nature of twinning and to the biological contributions to behavior.
As a trained psychoanalyst, I can speak to the contributions of development to behavior and the value of free will. Recent advances in genetic or constitutional contributions have been significant. Genetics for depression, bipolar and chemical dependency are being tract, as well as more subtle traits. A recent twin study of siblings separated a birth was startling.
One set found each other in there 40’s and decided to meet. They didn’t mention bringing a gift. They each brought the other the identical gift. Another set found each other, discovering they both were firemen with handlebar moustaches. Stranger than fiction.
As we sort through the components determining who we are, from family to experiences to choice, the science of genetics will point out our foundations. Should be fun!