Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Derived from a single egg or ovum: Used specifically in biology and medicine to describe twins that originate from one fertilized egg that splits into two embryos. This results in genetically identical individuals.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Identical twins are monovular, sharing 100% of their DNA.
  • The doctor confirmed it was a monovular pregnancy, meaning the twins would be identical.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Medical Context: The term is almost exclusively used in scientific, genetic, or medical discussions about twinning.
  • The study focused on the developmental differences between monovular and dizygotic twins.

Variants and Related Words

• Monozygotic (adj): This is the more common and preferred synonym in scientific English.
  • Monozygotic twinning is a rare occurrence.
• Uniovular (adj): A less common variant with the same meaning.
• Dizygotic (adj): The direct antonym, meaning derived from two separate eggs.

Synonyms

• Identical (in the context of twins):
• Monozygotic:

Antonyms

• Dizygotic: (of twins) derived from two separate eggs.
  • Fraternal twins are dizygotic.
• Fraternal: (of twins) born from separate ova; not identical.

Notes on Usage

• "Monovular" vs. "Monozygotic": While synonymous, is the standard term in genetics and most formal medical writing. is understood but used less frequently.
• The word is typically used attributively (before a noun), such as in . It is rarely used predicatively (after a linking verb like "are").

Adjective

1. (of twins) derived from a single egg or ovum
   • identical twins are monovular