A life time ago I joined
Facebook. Not sure why, it seemed a good idea at the time. It was one Christmas
when my parents were coming up to stay and they wanted to know what their children,
grandchildren and great children were up to. After joining and collecting a
number of ‘friends’ it became clear that letting my parents see what the aforementioned
family were up to was not the best idea I have ever had. I stopped using
Facebook by tea time on the Boxing Day. However, and I don’t know why, Facebook
seem happy to send me alerts when one of these 'friends' posts a message.
Last Monday, they told me Natalie
Ann was watching ‘the Bare Necessities’ from Jungle Book with her daughter. Natalie
Ann is herself the eldest daughter of my youngest sister Sarah. Sarah reminded
Natalie Ann that her Granddad Roy, my Father (obviously) used to watch this
with her over and over again when she was a small child – an interesting sense
of continuity.
Thursday, sitting at my desk, sipping my
first cup of coffee, I got a text to say that my eldest daughter had
given birth to her newest son and daughter at 05.35. Great news! They are number 7 and
8 grandchildren – and as I am writing this, so far un-named. Surprisingly, they were the first twins in the
family – ever, and they are non-identical twins. What I didn't know until last week was that
there are approximately 125 million twins in the world (apparently 1.9% of the
world population). If anyone knows how it is possible to agree this figure it
would be good to know.
I was reminded by one of my
friends (a real one that is) that there have been absolutely lots of ‘twin studies’ which have helped us better understand many
social, health and behavioural issues. In the UK, the majority of these studies
are conducted through the Department of Twin Research & Genetic
Epidemiology (DTR) at Kings College London. Known as TwinsUK, it is the
biggest UK adult twin registry, with some 12,000 twins aged between 16 and 98 who help
in the study of genetic and environmental factors that might cause disease and ill health.
TwinsUK was set up by Tim Spector
in 1992. Its patron is the delightful Baroness Betty Boothroyd (a dancer with the 'Tiller Girls' dancing troupe in the 1940s), who was the first UK female
Speaker of the House of Commons. TwinsUK is the UKs only adult twin registry and
the most clinical detailed in the world. Their research looks at osteoporosis,
osteoarthritis, melanoma, baldness, cardiovascular disease, ageing and sight,
diabetes, asthma and musculoskeletal problems. By using the DNA profiles of identical
and non-identical twin pairs, the importance of genetic and environmental influences
on many common diseases can be better understood.
Next week (the 8th
June to be precise) TwinsUK celebrate their ‘coming of age’ 21st
anniversary party. It will be held at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, which, interestingly is
where my eldest daughter did her nurse training! As for Facebook, well yesterday's Times described it as a ‘passing fad’. Membership is down to only 14
million people, each of whom on average use Facebook for only 8 hours a week. However I do
wonder what my daughters new twins will be writing about in 15 years time, and will my
children ‘censor’ my viewing of whatever is going to be the next
generation Facebook. Perhaps more importantly, will they be inviting me for Christmas?
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