Skip to main content

You could have a secret twin (but not the way you think) - Kayla Mandel Sheets

2,807,817 Views

4,453 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

While searching for a kidney donor, Karen Keegan stumbled upon a mystery. After undergoing genetic testing, it turned out that some of her cells had a completely different set of genes from the others. And this second set of genes belonged to her twin sister— who had never been born. How did this happen? Kayla Mandel Sheets explores the condition known as chimerism.

How frequently do single births originate as twin pregnancies?

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Kayla Mandel Sheets
  • Director Luísa Holanda, Hype CG
  • Narrator Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Storyboard Artist Luísa Holanda
  • Animator Murilo Jardim
  • Hype Producer Taíla Soliman
  • Art Director Luísa Holanda
  • Composer Gabriel Maia
  • Sound Designer Gabriel Maia
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Production Coordinator Abdallah Ewis
  • Fact-Checker Jennifer Nam

More from Getting Under Our Skin