Mystery Twins

Have you met any twins since your discovery? How do you compare yourselves as not growing up as twins to those growing up always knowing this?

Sent by William | 3:21 PM ET | 10-25-2007

Elyse and Paula:

I am so thankful that you were able to find each other and that Elyse's hard work paid off for both of you! It's so heart-warming to hear wonderful news like this!

Enjoy your lives together and love with the passion of sisters.

Greg Roach

Sent by Gregory Roach | 3:29 PM ET | 10-25-2007

Did you find any spiritual or religious similarities in your lives?

Sent by Heather | 3:29 PM ET | 10-25-2007

Have either of you met your birth parents? Was your mother aware she was having twins, and did she know about the study you'd be involved in?

Sent by Cyndi (St. Louis) | 3:30 PM ET | 10-25-2007

Thanks for sharing your story. What do you know about the circumstances of your birth mother?

Sent by Dara | 3:31 PM ET | 10-25-2007

How about attributing the similarities not just to DNA? Twins share the same formative environment in the womb, and in the environmental conditions around the mom during her pregnancy. The same nutrition, the same contact with feelings of stress or relaxation, and the same social environment that affects the mother. Quantum physics shows that energy of people near the mom affects what is inside her. This shows that nature and nurture are inseparable. The same nurture affects the twins during their entire period of growth into full human beings, even if they are separated after this has already occurred, at birth.

Sent by inspra | 3:32 PM ET | 10-25-2007

The women have different and similiar radio voices. Paula's voice is melodious and very feminine. Eylse's voice is more strident, whiskey, and practical. Does this reflect your personalities?

Sent by Amy Genova | 3:32 PM ET | 10-25-2007

How was the doctor's study conducted? How could he have maintained enough contact to watch you as you grew, yet restrain from sharing the information that you had sisters? Seems pretty cold, but I guess that's science.

Sent by Don Hoben | 3:32 PM ET | 10-25-2007

I am a identical twin, I was wondering if you know who is older.
My sister also lives in France, me in CA, but I am the older.
we were also a part of a study we knew nothing about growing up in Australia.

Caroline

Sent by Caroline McCormack | 3:33 PM ET | 10-25-2007

I face a very different perspective. I lost my twin in a car accident at age 17, I have always wondered what it would be like to have known my twin as an adult. I miss him so very much, and part of me aches a bit to wonder what it would be like to have a twin as an adult. I am so grateful to have had a constant buddy growing up, but it feels so unnatural without him today.

-Sarah
Richmond, VA

Sent by Sarah | 3:34 PM ET | 10-25-2007

A few minutes ago, Paula and Elyse were discussing their similarities (film interests, education, etc.). Here's a different perspective on that: Vedic astrology (which is considered a science, not mysticism as Western astrology is often considered to be) states that precisely when and where you are born is relevant to one's predisposition in all areas: health, wealth, longevity, public status, family life, etc. Some people do not subscribe to such beliefs, but it's certainly something to consider.

Sent by Lars | 3:36 PM ET | 10-25-2007

Elyse and Paula,

Are you each of similar health and do you have similar health histories?

Do you both feel happy and successful? Do you ever compare your physical appearances or accomplishments to each other?

Sent by skw | 3:37 PM ET | 10-25-2007

This is yet another tale of physicians run amok who are allowed to escape the consequences of both their unethical and illegal behavior. This rates along with the Tuskegee experimenters sacrificing other human beings for the "sake of science." As a physician of now 30 years, I am indignant and disgusted. This behavior is as repugnant as priests engaging in child abuse. Both these groups escape prosecution do to their "special" positions in society.

My contention is that it is never too late or the perpetrator to old to face prosecution. This is not a matter of revenge but rather a matter of public policy that physicians are not above the law and need to be held to the highest ethical standards

Sent by Robert Johnson, MD | 3:38 PM ET | 10-25-2007

Sadly, as an adult adoptee, I have to say that your history doesn't really surprise me, as appalling as it is.

The law is unbelievably cavalier with us. Our identies are stripped from us without our consent, and we have to jump through all sorts of hoops to find out the most fundamental information about ourselves -- where we came from. Whether we want contact with our birth families is not the fundamental issue. The fundamental issue is that all human beings have the right to their identities. Sadly, this right routinely gets dismissed or disregarded for all sorts of reasons, none of which have anything to do with the best interests of either the child who is adopted or the adult that child becomes.

That's why I am a member of Bastard Nation (www.bastards.org). I support unfettered access to our original birth certificates in all 50 states.

On a more personal note, congratulations on finding each other -- it sounds as if you are having a wonderful adventure!

Sent by Nina Greeley | 3:40 PM ET | 10-25-2007

Actually, I mixed up the names of the twins whose voices I assigned certain qualities. It was Elyse's voice that was melodious,Paula's voice has a whiskey or huskey sounding voice, etc. It could be that as Elyse is a writer, she is used to making her voice sound pleasant. While the separated twins voices are similiar, they are quite distinct. In otherwords, one could tell when the speaker switched.

Sent by Amy Genova | 3:50 PM ET | 10-25-2007

Your program today was especially interesting as I am a (very) identical twin, and I am so happy that you found each other. My brother and I are also very close, although we went our own ways for a number a years mostly because we got so very tired of getting confused by everyone including our girl friends. Now we realize how much fun we had. Best of luck in your new life. Grant Mallett

Sent by Grant Mallett | 3:55 PM ET | 10-25-2007

To Lars' point about astrology, or energy affecting personality at birth (and during gestation). I would like to see a study comparing similarities between people born at the same times in close locations. The level of similarity found could be compared to the level found among twins. This could show how much similarity can be attributed not just to the mother or genes, but to more universal conditions. Without such data, how is it right to assume similarities are due to genes apart from environment? If Western science rejects astrology, it should at least determine scientifically first if it should. This means trying to prove what it assumes to be false -- the impact of environment. One comprehensive study of birth and gestation environments could disprove most all assumptions about genes made by studies of twins separated at birth.

Sent by inspra | 4:30 PM ET | 10-25-2007

I thought I heard that the study you are a part of is sealed until years from now. Who's been doing the studying and how did they do it thus far without your knowledge?

Sent by Jim Knight | 5:39 PM ET | 10-25-2007

Only in adoption would something this tragic. Separating twins for a scientific experiment. Yes Nina I agree with you. It is very cavalier and cruel.

Sent by Amy | 5:52 PM ET | 10-25-2007

Hi. This is Paula. Thanks for all of your interest in the book.
To answer some of your above questions:
1. As for the difference in voices, friends who listened said it sounded as if I had a cold! Also, Elyse lived in Europe for a while.
2. We do have similar health histories. Luckily, we are both in generally good health, but we both have severe allergies to sulfa antibiotic drugs.
3. Sorry to be a tease, but for the circumstances about our birth mother, you'll have to read the book!
Best,
Paula

Sent by Paula Bernstein | 6:44 PM ET | 10-25-2007

Hi. It's Paula again.
I forgot to say that I am the "older" twin -- by about 30 minutes!
Also, in the book we interview other separated and reunited twins.
Thanks for all of your interest!
Paula

Sent by Paula Bernstein | 6:45 PM ET | 10-25-2007

I'm an identical twin, raised with my twin, and it wasn't until I was a senior in college that I had an epiphany, and realized that I was a different person from my sister, and that it was OK if we wanted to do different things with our lives. And that we might be good at different things. I still look at our childhood family pictures and have to figure out which one is me -- and it didn't occur to me until I was an adult that that was unusual.

Sent by sarah tamor | 1:36 AM ET | 10-26-2007

Who the hell thought this was a good idea? Studying these girls, these real people, with emotions and impacts around their separation, instead of keeping them together? Was it so that two adoptive parents could be served instead of just one? This is sick in my humble opinion, toying with real lives, whether or research or to multiple the number of adoption parents served by the industry. As a birthmother, this is sad news to me.

Sent by Denise Roessle | 2:35 AM ET | 10-26-2007

Just to be nitpicky, there is no such thing as the "older" twin; we came into being at the same time, before birth; which one emerged first is irrelevant

Sent by kathryn | 9:45 AM ET | 10-28-2007

In the segment, the twins mentioned both having a favorite book. I thought this book was "The Secret of Laughter and Forgiving" but I cannot seem to find it. Can you advise me of the correct title?
thank you!

Sent by Sarah Dorian-Lawrence | 5:53 PM ET | 11-02-2007