[mindprism.com]

It's possible you could be removing a cell with a predictable fate and causing damage

Then genetic twins are inferior compared to the individual who would have been produced had the division not occurred.

[Black Agnes]

Um, no. Maybe there are certain eggs that are predisposed to split. Not the same as removing a cell. I like the 'patterning' argument re: eggs. This might explain a lot about twinning. Wonder how one would select for this type of egg being produced. This type of twinning is at a fairly constant rate across all races over the earth. Fraternal twinning (two eggs, each being fertilized and implanted during one cycle) differs widely across the planet. Japan has the *lowest* rate of this (interestingly enough, japanese eat a lot of soy, which has phytoestrogens in it which may hinder ovulation, at least the multiple kind). Nigeria has the highest rate (several *hundred* times the rate of Japan. Nigerian women eat a lot of yams, yams have a progesterone mimic in them which fools the body into thinking ovulation hasn't occurred yet so it tries again. /ramble...