DNA Test On Identical Triplets Leads To The Most Puzzling Twist

The Dahm sisters are pretty much indistinguishable from one another. Born in December 1977, Nicole, Erica, and Jaclyn are identical triplets, and as babies, even their parents couldn’t tell them apart.

In fact, that’s why each was branded with a unique tattoo at birth: Nicole, born first, was given one dot on her butt; Erica dons two dots for having been born second; and Jaclyn, out third, went tattoo-less.

As the three grew older, they navigated the world of modeling together, becoming the first ever triplets featured in a Playboy Magazine centerfold. The girls were 21, and the world marveled at their physical similarities. In fact, this raised a lot of questions.

Just how similar were they? Well, triplets occur when a single fertilized zygote splits into three identical portions in the womb. A certain journalist, however, wanted a more granular understanding. She wanted to know if their ancestry aligned.

So that investigative reporter, Lisa Guerrero at Inside Edition, devised an experiment to find out. To get started, she gave the triplets each two home DNA and ancestry test kits.

The DNA tests, supplied from the popular ancestry site 23andMe, worked like this: the triplets surrendered spit into a small vial, which was then shipped to the parent company. There, professionals extracted DNA cells from the saliva.

Then, 23andMe compared the extracted DNA to the already analyzed DNA of over 10,000 people with known ancestries, people who'd already submitted samples to the site. Experts then keyed in on the regional source and ancestry of the triplets’ genomes…

The triplets waited anxiously for the results, and soon they received the good news: experts had finished analyzing their samples, and the details of the study would be shared with them on the set of The Doctors, a daytime talk show.

When the show began, before diving into the results, The Doctors host Dr. Travis Stork asked the triplets a simple question: “How would you feel if your ancestry was different?” Nicole's answer echoed a lot of viewers watching at home.

“I don’t know how that could happen,” she said. “We’re one egg that split, and we all came out of our mother, so maybe a little different DNA, but we still have the same ancestry, right?”

Well, the first of the two tests the sisters took, which looked purely at their DNA and not their ancestry, confirmed the obvious: they were indeed identical triplets. The second test, though, had more surprising results.

In front of a live audience, Lisa revealed the results of the second test: “Nicole” she said, “you’re 18 percent British and Irish. Erica, you’re 15 percent British and Irish.” And Jaclyn?

Jaclyn, left, was 19 percent British and Irish! How, the sisters wondered, could their percentages be different if their DNA was the same? These were small discrepancies, sure, but discrepancies nonetheless. The test results had further surprises in store.

Nicole had about 11 percent French and German ancestry while her sisters had about twice as much; meanwhile, Nicole was 11.4 percent Scandinavian, while her sisters were just 7.4 percent. With more discrepancies showing up, the sisters — and audience — grew more confused.

What was particularly confusing was that they could actually unlock each others’ phones with their identical fingerprints. How could they be so similar, yet so different? Were they human anomalies? This was clarified when 23andMe responded.

See, 23andMe reports change based on a user’s “confidence levels." These "lower confidence levels," the spokesperson said, "allow you to take a more speculative look at your ancestry breakdown." In other words?

If the triplets submitted their tests with “low confidence levels,” then, “you are going to throw off the comparisons,” the spokesperson said. “Even when [the triplets] did that, there wasn’t that great of a difference.” Case closed?

Back on the set of The Doctors, Lisa pitched a question to Dr. Travis: “we found a few discrepancies,” she said. “What does that say to you? What is your takeaway from these tests?”

Dr. Travis gave the diplomatic answer: “I’m not a geneticist,” he said. “But I love the idea of these at-home tests for fun…we’re not to a place yet where you can just spit in a cup and have every single answer that you’re looking for.”

What the tests did accomplish, however, was a widening of the world's understanding and interest in genes, ancestries, and genetics. The Dahms may continue to wonder about their genetic differences for the rest of their lives, but they are far more fortunate than another set of triplets who experienced tragedy right from the start.

See, the girls' mother knew she was about to deliver triplets, but when two of the three came out conjoined the whole hospital went silent. Conjoined twins only account for around 1 in 200,000 births, so it’s safe to say that Mackenzie and Macy Garrison had a pretty unique lot in life. However, what makes them even more special is that they were successfully separated.

The Garrison girls were born as triplets. While Madeline was born healthy, Macey and Mackenzie faced some serious risks. Conjoined at the pelvis, these sisters faced a very different path in life. Their parents had to make a series of gut-wrenching decisions.

Ten months after their birth, the girls faced a choice that determined the future of their family. The chief medical officer at the Los Angeles' Children's Hospital, Dr. James Stein, came forward to head an operation that could help the babies.

Dr. Stein was adamant about completing the operation. After all, while the planned surgery was not going to be easy, Stein knew it was necessary if the girls were to enjoy an independent life. Though this was no routine procedure.

Further complicating the surgery was the fact that the girls' had entwined intestines and shared a third leg. And in addition to the challenge of surgery, the girls also faced difficult personal circumstances. Their birth parents both had drug addictions, so they decided to give the girls up for adoption.

Still, the procedure couldn't be delayed any longer. During a 24-hour long operation in 2003, Dr. Stein led a team of surgeons in meticulously separating Macey and Mackenzie. If all went according to plan, both of the twins would be left with one leg.

By the last hour, the doctors knew the surgery's objective had been accomplished. Still, because of the parents' addiction issues, the future of all three sisters was hanging in limbo. Two years later, positive news developed.

The twins and their other sister were adopted by Darla Keller and Jeff Garrison. They took the girls to their home in Iowa, where with three biological sons, the Garrison family grew. Three sisters now had three brothers.

Living on a farm, the sisters thrived. Both Darla and Jeff treated them as regular kids and it helped tremendously. Macey and Mackenzie may still have had difficulties, but they had a strong determination as well.

Due to their amputations, the two relied on prosthetics to stay mobile. Several more medical issues came about as the years went by. Spinal infusions caused issue for the twins, but they persevered. Soon, a big milestone loomed ahead.

During the fall of 2020, the triplets entered their senior year of high school. Two decades of their life have almost been completed. For the first time, they could really start looking ahead to a future of their own making.

Madeline, after years of watching the medical help given to her sisters, became interested in a career in the nursing field. She wanted to narrow her focus onto geriatric patients with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Mackenzie had not made definite plans on her future just yet, although she realized she had a passion for agriculture. As for Macey, she has started plans to become a kindergarten teacher. One person could hardly believe the strides they'd made.

Even after all these years later, Dr. Stein wasn't forgotten. The twins may not have seen him in over a decade, but that didn't stop them from communicating. Their experience has keep them connected in unexpected ways.

The twins have given their doctor the title of "the coolest person ever" and sent over emails to keep him up to date. Dr. Stein, on his part, was ecstatic over the continued contact. He hasn't been shy about singing their praises.

Sharing an excerpt in a People magazine article entitled: "Formerly Conjoined Twins and Their Sister Enjoy Being 'Normal,'" Dr. Stein spoke about his ongoing relationship with the twins all these years later. “It’s been a wonderful experience following the girls themselves and staying in touch with them.”

Dr. Stein had the pleasure to watch as the babies recovered, grew, and matured into two very healthy individuals. The careful work that he and the other doctors performed that day in 2003 paid off well. However, the Garrison girls admitted they were a bit puzzled about all that publicity.

While the twins made headlines during their birth and surgery, both Macey and Madeline have continued to find their prominence in the news, rather odd. Even their sister Madeline could never wrap her head around it.

For all three girls, they were simply sisters to one another. The fact that the whole country knew who they were has hardly fazed them, though. They never wanted to become public figures; instead, their personal lives came first.

Their mother, Darla, was possibly the most excited to see where their future may lead. "I’m relieved because, like I said, we always knew there were going to be bumps in the road and issues," she said. But fortunately, "They’re just like their peers."

The Garrison girls ended up both a surgical success as well as an adoption one. They were fortunate enough to stay together and develop their sisterly bond and irrefutable triplet connection. And though they still have some physical obstacles to overcome, they are happy together and living their best life.