# Sperm Competition and Double Paternity **URL:** \ **Category:** Studies & Abstracts\ **Created:** [January 7, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/sperm-competition-and-double-paternity/88 "2006-01-07T19:59:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PheroQuirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@PheroQuirk](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/PheroQuirk)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/sperm-competition-and-double-paternity/88/1 "2006-01-07T19:59:58Z")
[http://www.gnxp.com/blog/2006/01/sperm-competition-part-n.php](http://www.gnxp.com/blog/2006/01/sperm-competition-part-n.php) Sperm competition, part _n_ [The incidence of superfecundation and of double paternity in the general population](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7871943&dopt=Abstract): It is estimated that at least one dizygotic (DZ) twin maternity in twelve is preceded by superfecundation (the fertilization of two ova by sperm from different coitions). Presumably this parameter varies from population to population eg. with coital rates and rates of double ovulation. Sometimes superfecundation occurs by two different men. The frequency with which this occurs must depend on rates of infidelity (promiscuity). **It is suggested that among DZ twins born to married white women in the U.S., about _one pair in 400_ is bipaternal**. The incidence may be substantially higher in small selected groups of dizygotic twin maternities, eg. those of women engaged in prostitution. [How frequent is heteropaternal superfecundation?](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=1488855&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum): A newly discovered case of heteropaternal superfecundation (HS) is reported. Three HS cases were found in a parentage test database of 39,000 records.\*\* The frequency of HS among dizygotic twins whose parents were involved in _paternity suits_ is 2.4%.\*\* Although the study population appears similar to the general population with respect to twinning data, inferences about the frequency of HS in other populations should be drawn with caution. **Related:** [Sperm competition](http://www.gnxp.com/MT2/archives/003062.html). posted by Razib | [3:08 PM](http://www.gnxp.com/blog/2006/01/sperm-competition-part-n.php) | [postCount(‘113658996322662017’);Comment (1)](http://www.haloscan.com/comments/raldanash/113658996322662017/) | \ ([http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=10083047&postID=113658996322662017](http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=10083047&postID=113658996322662017))\ ([http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=10083047&postID=113658996322662017&quickEdit=true](http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=10083047&postID=113658996322662017&quickEdit=true)) ---
**Author:** ![Jasmin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/pheromonetalk.com/jasmin/32/287_2.png) [@Jasmin](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Jasmin)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 6:01am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/sperm-competition-and-double-paternity/88/2 "2006-01-08T06:01:14Z")
Whoa! I wasn’t aware such a thing existed in humans. I knew a same litter of kittens could have an assortment of different fathers (I’m certain that’s what happened with my cats - one;s a longhair tortie and the other is pure white shorthair, but theyre sisters!) but in humans?? Wouldn’t the number of di- or even tri- zygotic maternities just increase with all the fertility hormone treatments running rampant? Could you imagine a future where your half-brother could have shared a womb with you? _Kinda_ creepy, but if kittens can hack it I guess I can too! ---
**Author:** ![PheroQuirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@PheroQuirk](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/PheroQuirk)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 4:18pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/sperm-competition-and-double-paternity/88/3 "2006-01-08T16:18:27Z")
> [@Jasmin](#): > > Whoa! I wasn’t aware such a thing existed in humans. I knew a same litter of kittens could have an assortment of different fathers (I’m certain that’s what happened with my cats - one;s a longhair tortie and the other is pure white shorthair, but theyre sisters!) but in humans?? > > Wouldn’t the number of di- or even tri- zygotic maternities just increase with all the fertility hormone treatments running rampant? > > Could you imagine a future where your half-brother could have shared a womb with you? _Kinda_ creepy, but if kittens can hack it I guess I can too! This book is somewhat controversial, but interesting. [Sperm Wars: The Science of Sex: Baker, Robin: 9780788160042: Amazon.com: Books](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0788160044/) Sperm Wars