Human chimeras

Abstract

Introduction. The fundamentals of genetics states that every organism has one type of DNA that is present within any cell, and each cell of one body contains the same DNA. There is no law without any exception. Genetic chimeras are organisms that own two cell lines, meaning they have cells that contain different DNA. At first glance this phenomenon seems impossible, as nature accepts no mistake, but the existence of these organisms is undeniable. Chimeras live around us, and without an DNA test they cannot be spotted, as they present no specific or abnormal features. The frequency of chimerism is still unknown, as no one tests for it. Aim of the study. The main goal of this research is to report an interesting and poorly known phenomenon, along with its particularity and recent scientific researches in the domain. Materials and methods. For this research, scientific reports from various on-line platforms as CELL press, or PLOS Biology were used, along with other informative sources from internet. Results. The result of this research is a short glance into the future of genetics, as the study of chimerism leads towards a new scientific branch that seems appealing to biologists, organ engineering. Conclusions. Chimeras are one of the most marvelous examples of natural wonders, and understanding the way they are created, can lead humanity to the understanding of its own origin, the origin of life.