Battle of the sexes begins before twins' birth

TWIN WAR: Researchers from Tel Aviv University have shown that the war between the sexes may begin in the womb.

ibnlive.com is on mobile now. Read news, watch videos
be a Citizen Journalist. Log on to m.ibnlive.com NOW!

Related Stories

• 67-yr-old woman gives birth to twins

• It's official: French will be Nice to Jolie-Pitt twins

• Lost son to air crash, mom gets twins

Top Headlines

Top Videos

Most Popular

• Staff strike at one oil firm ends, others to follow suit 

• Satyam: A new storm in India's cup of woes 

• 'Govt, regulator ignored warning about Satyam'  

• Situation on India-Pak border fragile: Gilani 

• Clean up the terror camps: US lawmaker tells Pak 

• Pak role in 26/11 attacks possible: Imran Khan 

• US sees 26/11 as model for future terrorism 

• India convinced of Pak army role in Mumbai attacks 

• Noida rape: Boy confesses, Panchayat says not guilty 

• Sanjay Dutt speaks like a politician, says no comments 

• Oil PSU strike continues, consumers bear the brunt 

• Pak role in 26/11 attacks possible: Imran Khan 

• US backs India on 26/11 but Pak not listening 

• Satyam fiasco could affect Hyd metro rail project  

• Power slips out of Soren's hands yet again 

• Rampant criminal activities make Noida insecure  

• Not amused by starry tantrums? here are the fetishes 

• Watch: John Abraham's Aashayein stuck in the cans 

• Three Indian artists nominated for Grammys 

• Recession-hit US porn industry demands bailout 

• Pak role in 26/11 attacks possible: Imran Khan 

• India convinced of Pak army role in Mumbai attacks 

• Bringing Satyam auditor PwC to book may not be easy 

• Noida rape: Boy confesses, Panchayat says not guilty 

• Oil PSU strike continues, consumers bear the brunt 

• 'Govt, regulator ignored warning about Satyam'  

• Satyam: A new storm in India's cup of woes 

• US backs India on 26/11 but Pak not listening 

• Slumdog Millionaire sweeps Critics Choice Awards 

• Staff strike at one oil firm ends, others to follow suit 

Photogallery

Find us on Facebook | Join IBNLive community

Stay ahead with G-Talk Buddy | Click now!

Washington: Researchers from Tel Aviv University have shown that the war between the sexes may begin in the womb, and that a male twin can compromise the health of his twin sister before she is born.

The study, led by Prof. Brian Reichman, a lecturer in pediatrics at Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine, is expected to help pediatricians better understand the health risks and outcome of premature babies.

In the study, Prof. Reichman helped analyze the data collected by the Israel Neonatal Network comprising 8,858 very low birth weight infants (1 to 3 pounds) born prematurely at 24 to 34 weeks' gestation.

The study data covered infants born between 1995 and 2003 and included singletons, same-sex and mixed-sex pre-term twins.

They analyzed the incidence of complications, such as respiratory distress syndrome, found in pre-term twins.

Compared to premature twin boys, premature twin girls had a 60 percent advantage, the study found.

The study also found that the premature twin girls tended not to develop respiratory distress syndrome and chronic lung diseases sometimes found in premature infants. This advantage was lost in infant girls with a male twin.

“The male disadvantage, the study suggests, seems to be transferred from

the boy to the girl in utero,“ Reichman said. “The effects are occurring already in the uterus,” he added. The study is published in the journal Pediatrics.