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Cells of a sibling, child, or possibly even a long-forgotten lover may persist in our bodies for decades, yet little is known about the role such genetic interlopers play. Research into the phenomenon has revealed tantalizing links to autoimmune diseases and changes in the brain, at the same time raising complicated questions of identity.
Chimerism is a strange beast. Scientifically, it’s the persistence of cells from two (or more) people in one body. Firm numbers remain elusive, but most—if not all—humans are probably a little chimeric, since mothers and fetuses commonly exchange cells during pregnancy. Such chimeric cells can invade organs throughout the body, including the brain, and scientists have found tantalizing links between chimerism and autoimmune diseases, in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissue. Beyond strictly medical issues, chimerism also raises psychological questions about child development, sexual identity, mother-child bonding, and even what constitutes the self.
I've read about chimerism a few times over the years, but the implications are so mind-boggling and complex that I've never tried to delve into it in depth. It's certainly an interesting topic, though.
That article also demonstrates the absurdity of the high level of faith that so many people put into DNA evidence. They think that DNA testing is an exception to the truism that there is no such thing as a perfect test. It's not an exception, it's just one more imperfect test.
Thanks for the link.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
