So I saw this thing in tv, that says that there are 64 billion genetic combinations to how a human being looks/is, so basically there are 64 billion ways the human genes can be combined. So does this mean does this mean that there is actually a possibility that someone may have had or will have a genetically identical twin in the past or future? or even present? Just something I thought of while on the thrown at work..... ;-)

-skep.

I totally believe this... years ago, I was thrown out of a Chicago bar as soon as I entered, for causing trouble earlier in the week... but, I had never been in the bar before... I showed the bartender my ID, the bartender said the 'twin' even had the same first name...

after the tossed u out head first did they say and take your hat. then it comes twirling down on ur lap? classic

LOL, I rarely wear a hat...

arent there only 6 billion on earth?

hmmm, could i please see what you look like ? PM me.

The number will be much much more than just 6 billion if you add up the past generations.

ooh sorry

I'll be keeping an eye out for my twin.

Everyone says "oh I saw u at (someplace) yesterday) and I will say, "No i wasnt there." and I have actually met this person, and he looks very similar to me, its pretty scary how much he looks like me.

I read (somewhere?) recently that <Quote>..10% of all the people who have ever lived, are actually alive right now....so if there are 6 billion alive today then it is basically saying that there has only ever been 60 billion people (In-Total) born on earth. (whether that is a good approximation or not...I really don't know)

Great Odds.

Interesting topic. But don't forget that the gene pool of the human race changes over time as mutations occur and as some genes are selected against and die out. No doubt the gene pool has increased over time as the numbers of genetic variations increases and the number of people also has increased greatly.

It's not as uncommon as some of you may think. I saw my "brother" walking down a street with a friend of mine in the pouring rain near the Hamburg, New York area. We stopped and, surprise, it wasn't him. Identical features, walk, even the travel bag he used to carry. My brother himself believed we all had a "twin" and claimed he saw mine in Erie, Pa. cutting a lawn! So, who knows-be it a "Doppleganger" or Rakshasha (spelling?) None seemed to be threatening, but did seem to take you for a loss...

The current estimate is more like 100 billion.

oh well...guess that means only 6% of people (who have ever existed)..are alive today then.

even if you add past generations i think you will b e a bit short of 64 billion. but i dont know for sure because i didnt do the math.

^Even if that were the case, it's only probability. It's possible that right at this moment there are 100 people with 'twins'. Unlikely, but possible.

about 7 years ago I was out near my street playing football (soccer) with some friends. This kid walked past us, everyone was kind of in shock and was looking at me, then at him... I looked, and he looked exactly the same!! lol

had the same features, around the same age, longish hair. It was freaky!

We all just burst out laughing when just after he turned the corner.

That doesn't surprise me. I think its entirely possible. Reminds me of years ago, a friend of mine swore she saw me across the street but with different colour hair and phoned up to say she liked the colour change.

i was in the shops and i was wearing a brown jumper with the brand on the front and black cargo pants *it was winter* and was playing the PS2 in the games section when i looked over at my friend talking 2 this guy calling him by my name and the guy was baffeled, my friend looked at me and freaked out beause that guy looked like me *spiky hair with glasses* and was wearing the same clothing

:-) YAY I made my first popular post, woohoo! lol Interesting to note how many people have seen their twin or have someone who has seen their twin. There does seem to be a people type, you could catagorize some people's features and put them into a pool of look alikes.. My dad looks a bit like drew carey, same kind of features... Really interesting though. :-D

-skep.

Its perfectly possible. Now what if you meet them!

hmm strangely enough i was wondering about this myself about 2 weeks ago then forgot about it until i read this post. its amazing that that seems to happen so often. but lets get to the nitty gritty of this thing shall we?

are you sure you're doing your math properly here? i mean potentially you could be remembering how they stated it incorrectly and that there is 64 billion combinations that can be made for a new child between the new parents, not just 64 billion total? that to me would make more sense than such a limited number of genetic pairings. considering human genes change via to humans copulating and creating offspring thusly the number from 64 billion would go up? and thats not to mention the genetic mutations that happen as well. im pretty sure its 64 billion combinations per male and female who mate and that probability of you having a twin not related to you so much more unlikely.

but thats just thoughts of someone who nearly failed out of highschool so dont listen to me.

Doppleganger.

Intersting topic.

I've seen and met people and their twins, including mine. I was watching tv and i noticed this guy in it looked just like me. Well when i was 8 that is. Exactly the same except darker skin. At 8 i didn't had those 2 front teeth. Same with this guy. He even laughed the same as i use to. Too bad it was only for few seconds. That's all i could make of him in that time.

Another one. I use to go to Karate class and knew this guy. He looked exactly like a guy i saw in another country who i use to know. Same feathers and everything.

My english teacher. I was watching millionair and this guy came on. He looked and even smiled, laughed and talked like my english teacher. Except he wasn't balled and my english teacher was.


I know more but can't remember at this moment.

Hey i KNOW this to be true
How would you feel if your doppelganger came to work in the same plant as you ??????
It happened to me ....and it was one of the freakiest things ever ...we used to pass in the halls and i got this creepy feeling every time...i'm sure it freaked him out also because he only stayed a few weeks before moving on.....i hope it never happens again

Yea i believe this could happen and already has happened to me, I know this sounds wierd but every time i watch Harry Potter its like i'm l;ooking at myself 4 years ago, it kinda freaked me out the first time i saw it, all my friends think so too, my nickname ever since the movies came out has been "potter", don't have a camera or i would post my pick its freaky though.

In middle school, one of my friends told me that she talked to me the previous day, or at least attempted to. She said it was me from the back but I didn't talk to her. I know I didn't because I wasn't there that day. I was home, sick.

1 to 64 billion ? Probobly, if you exclude identical twins.

^There are 64 billion possible combinations hence the statistic, it doesn't have anything to do with however many twins are alive today.

A friend of mine once told me I looked exactly like her coworker. Who is Japanese. I'm a complete Euromutt. Not sure how that works... :\

Deleted stupid comment.

I ran into my twin once in a subway in Japan. I killed him with a rusty crowbar and ditched his body in the ocean....

There can only be one!

Know if their are 1 in 64 billion chance of having an identicle twin but not from the the same birth. Sense their are genes that are more inside genes such as athletic abilities and their are phenotype what u look like on the outside. what if you had a similar person not an exact same but close enough to look like you