Human Chimera
Genetic chimerism in humans refers to a rare condition where an individual has cells with different genetic makeups, resulting from the fusion of two or more embryos during early development. This can occur naturally:
- When fraternal twin embryos fuse in the womb, leading to an individual with cells from both embryos. Chimeras may exhibit a mosaic of traits, with different parts of their bodies having distinct genetic compositions.
- From processes such as the persistence of fetal cells in the mother’s body after pregnancy, known as maternal-fetal microchimerism.
In addition to macrochimerism involving entire tissues or organs, microchimerism involves the presence of a small number of foreign cells in an individual’s body, often from a different individual. While most cases of chimerism are asymptomatic, rare cases may present with medical conditions such as autoimmune diseases or disorders related to blood or organ transplants.
Diagnosis mostly happens incidentally during genetic testing, such as when discrepancies are found between different tissue samples or during paternity testing. While chimerism is usually benign, it can complicate medical diagnoses and forensic investigations due to variations in DNA profiles from different tissues.
Chimerism raises ethical questions regarding individual identity, reproductive rights, and legal parentage, especially in cases where it affects medical or legal decisions. Chimerism may also have psychosocial implications for individuals and families, raising questions about identity, family relationships, and personal history.
Chimera – Genetics
Chimera genetics refers to an organism containing cells with different genetic compositions. In genetics, human chimeras are individuals with cells from two or more genetically distinct sources. Identification of chimerism in humans involves genetic testing of multiple tissues or cells to detect variations in DNA profiles.
Chimerism can occur naturally through processes like twinning or fusion of embryos, and artificially through procedures like organ transplantation or gene therapy. Chimerism has applications in various fields like forensics, transplantation, and reproductive medicine. In this article, we will study the meaning of chimera, its formation, chimera in humans and its identification in detail.
Table of Content
- What is Chimera – Genetics?
- What Causes Chimerism?
- Symbiotic Chimerism in Anglerfish
- Animal Chimera
- Human Chimera
- Germline Chimera in Genetic Engineering
- Chimera Diagnosis
- Advantages of Chimera
- Disadvantages of Chimerism