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chimera
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chimera, genetics
chimera, genetics
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Category: Science & Tech
Key People:
Steen Willadsen
Related Topics:
twin chimera
androgenetic chimera
dispermic chimera
parthenogenetic chimera
tetragametic chimera
See all related content →

chimera, in genetics, an organism or tissue that contains at least two different sets of DNA, most often originating from the fusion of as many different zygotes (fertilized eggs). The term is derived from the Chimera of Greek mythology, a fire-breathing monster that was part lion, part goat, and part dragon. Chimeras are distinguished from mosaics, organisms that contain genetically different populations of cells originating from a single zygote, and from hybrids, organisms containing genetically identical populations of cells originating from a cross of two different species. Included among the different known types of animal chimeras are dispermic and twin ...(100 of 672 words)

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