Chimerism

Chimerism occurs when an individual has two or more different sets of DNA within their body, typically resulting from the merging of two fertilized eggs or the exchange of cells between mother and child during pregnancy. This means parts of their tissues or blood may originate from different genetic sources. It’s rare but can affect things like blood type, or sometimes go unnoticed. Chimerism is usually harmless, but understanding it is important in medical contexts such as transplants or genetic testing. Essentially, a chimera is like a person with a mixed genetic makeup from multiple sources.