# Are identical twins the same as clones?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-identical-twins-the-same-as-clones/59440>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 25, 2001, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-identical-twins-the-same-as-clones/59440 "2001-03-25T20:12:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Verrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/46a35a/32.png) [@Verrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Verrain)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2001, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-identical-twins-the-same-as-clones/59440/21 "2001-03-26T13:10:40Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Squink \*  
> \*\*
> 
> > [@](#):
> >
> > An excellent point, though the vast majority of mitochrondrial genes are never expressed outside of the mitochrondria and so would have a very minimal effect on the whole animal.
> 
> Actually there are several mitochondrial mutations that have severe effects on the whole animal by decreasing the rate and efficiency with which ATP (useable energy) can be produced.  
> \*\*

That is, of course, absolutely correct. But aside from such mutations, could variations in functional mitochrondrial DNA cause differences in clones? That is a harder question to answer but I would think the odds are low.

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