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Colombian laboratory confirms case of twins with different fathers

2 sources · 24 Apr 2026 · Share coverage ·

In 2018, a Colombian woman had a paternity test done on twins and discovered that each child had a different father. The laboratory at the National University of Colombia confirmed the case of heteropaternal superfecundation, a very rare phenomenon.

Heteropaternal superfecundation is an extremely rare phenomenon where twins are born with different fathers during the same menstrual cycle. About twenty such cases have been reported in scientific articles worldwide, with only three cases found in a database of 39,000 paternity tests.

1. What we know (3)

A woman went to the laboratory at the National University of Colombia in 2018 for paternity testing of twins born two years earlier

2 sources A Gazeta UOL

The phenomenon is known as heteropaternal superfecundation

2 sources A Gazeta UOL

About 20 similar cases have been reported in the worldwide scientific literature

2 sources A Gazeta UOL
2. Where coverage thins out (4)

Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.

Covered by only some sources (4)

The test was performed using microsatellite marker technology, analyzing 17 DNA points from the mother, babies and alleged father

Reported by: A Gazeta
Did not cover: UOL

The alleged father's DNA matched one of the boys, but not the other

Reported by: A Gazeta
Did not cover: UOL

The test was repeated to confirm the result

Reported by: A Gazeta
Did not cover: UOL

For heteropaternal superfecundation to occur, the woman must have two sexual partners within a short time frame, polyovulation must occur and fertilization must happen both times

Reported by: A Gazeta
Did not cover: UOL
3. What we don't know yet

No gaps declared — all sources converge on the material facts.

All sources

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