Chimerism
by: Pavan Susarla
What is chimerism
It is named after the greek mythological creature the Chimera because it is part lioness part goat and part snake
How was it discovered
Method of Inheritance
Blood transfusion and organ transplants also cause Chimerism.
How common is it
Symtoms
Chimerism is usually not life threatening but can be in rare cases.
- You can have 46 XX chromosomes and 46 XY chromosomes.
- You can have slightly different color skin.
- You can have different eye color and hair color.
Prognosis
Treatment
Fun facts
Chimerism occurs naturally in adult Ceratoid anglerfish. Once a male is born, it begins its search for a female. Using strong smell receptors the male searches until it locates a female anglerfish. The male bites into her skin and releases an enzyme that digests the skin of his mouth and her body, fusing the pair . While this attachment has become necessary for the male's survival, it will eventually consume him, as both anglerfish fuse into a single individual. Sometimes more than one male will attach to a single female as a parasite. They will all be consumed into the body of the larger female angler. Once fused to a female, the males will reach sexual maturity, developing large reproductive organs as their other organs atrophy. This process allows for sperm to be in constant supply when the female produces an egg, so that the chimeric fish is able to have a greater number of offspring.