When Montana couple, Jodey and Jase Kinsey, gave birth to triplets earlier this week, the two young parents were overjoyed. But soon after the births of their three healthy boys in the delivery room, they soon learned that they struck the biologic lottery, scoring a genetic jackpot if you will. The newly born boys Ian, Milo, and Cade, are all genetically identical brothers, representing a one-in-a-million birth.
"I went in for an early ultrasound just to make sure that everything was looking good and the ultrasound tech told me she wasn't positive but it looked like there were three heartbeats," Jodey Kinsey said. "I went by myself to that appointment and called Jase and asked if he was sitting down." Luckily, he was.
Monozygotic (genetically identical) triplets-identical triplets, for that matter-occur when a single sperm manages to fertilize one egg, later splitting into two genetically identical babies. This, however, is much different than how dizygotic (genetically different) triplets develop inside the mother. Normally speaking, triplets are the result of three different eggs, each being fertilized by a different sperm.
In fact, aside from this unique birth, a woman from Canada in 1938 gave birth to genetically identical quintuplets. Now that's something, five all too similar kids running around the house.
The three brothers were brought into the world via a C-section, due to the possible complications of giving birth to the large brood. And at 33 weeks old, they delivered prematurely, weighing-in at barely 4 pounds each. But, thankfully, all the newborns appear to be healthy and are all now happily at home.
"We will all be able to go home," Jodey Kinsey says.
And, just like any infant, there will be a few tantrums here-and-there.
"When you have three different babies crying at once, it makes a very unique melody," said the delivering physician, Dr. Dana Damron.
But, although they are genetically identical, each baby will develop into their own being; no two people are the same, after all.
