Medical staff in Colombia are preparing for an unprecedented birth: four babies who share the same DNA. The case involves quadruplets, a rarity that has drawn attention from doctors and lawmakers alike.
The father, Jonatan Zapa, said he has not heard of any similar instance in the country. He emphasized that the children would be monozygotic, meaning they originate from a single fertilized egg.
The discovery occurred at Hospital César Uribe Piedrahíta in Caucasia. Both parents and the attending physician were surprised when the test results confirmed the genetic identity of the four fetuses.
Repeated ultrasounds throughout the pregnancy showed matching genetic markers for each fetus. Studies indicate that the children have the same DNA, meaning they share 100% of their genetic material at the start of life.
Although the quadruplets begin with 100% identical genetic code, scientists note that individual mutations and environmental influences will gradually create small genetic and epigenetic differences. Such variation is typical even among identical twins.
Colombia currently lacks specific legislation addressing the legal status of persons with identical DNA. General laws on identification, filiation, and constitutional rights apply, but no separate framework exists for cases like this.
The national registry distinguishes each individual through secondary biometric traits, including fingerprints, which remain unique despite the shared genetic material. Separate birth certificates are also issued, ensuring that each child has an independent legal identity.
When identical siblings are involved in paternity disputes, the country’s jurisprudence requires additional evidence, testimonies, possession of status, timing, and location, to differentiate between them. Genetic evidence alone cannot resolve such cases.
Genetic testing remains a highly accurate tool for confirming relationships and identifying victims or suspects in criminal investigations. However, the technique assumes genetic uniqueness, an assumption that fails with monozygotic multiples, highlighting the need for complementary identification methods.
Colombia would face the first case of four people with the same DNA, raising questions about how medical, administrative, and legal systems will handle the unprecedented circumstances.
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