Chimerism
Chimerism
Chimerism (pronunciation: /kaɪˈmɪərɪzəm/) is a rare genetic condition where an individual is composed of cells from at least two different original embryos. The term is derived from the etymological root "Chimera", a mythical creature in Greek mythology that was a hybrid of a lion, goat, and serpent.
Definition
Chimerism is a biological phenomenon that occurs when two fertilized eggs or embryos fuse together early in pregnancy. Each zygote carries a copy of its parents' genes, and when they merge, they create an organism with two different sets of genes. This can result in an individual having different blood types, or even being a hermaphrodite if the two original embryos were of different sexes.
Types of Chimerism
There are several types of chimerism, including:
- Tetragametic chimerism: This is the most common type of chimerism and occurs when two separate sperm fertilize two separate eggs, which then fuse together to form one organism with four parent cells.
- Microchimerism: This occurs when a small number of cells from one individual integrate into the body of another individual. This can occur during pregnancy, where cells from the fetus enter the mother's bloodstream and vice versa.
- Blood chimerism: This occurs when individuals receive a blood transfusion from someone of a different blood type.
Related Terms
- Mosaicism: A condition in which an individual's cells are genetically different but originate from a single zygote. This is different from chimerism, where the cells originate from at least two different zygotes.
- Hybrid: An organism that is the offspring of two animals or plants of different species or varieties. Unlike chimeras, hybrids are not necessarily composed of cells from two different organisms.
- Genetics: The study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in living organisms.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Chimerism
- Wikipedia's article - Chimerism
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