![]() This shows that there seem to be limitations to the distance two organisms can be in respect to evolution. While we have successfully made a rat-mouse chimera, such is not the case for a rodent-pig chimera. For instance, the mythological Chimera of ancient Greece is unlikely to ever be physically possible: there is a limit to how different two animals can be and still be chimerically compatible with one another. While chimeras seem incredibly exciting, there are some caveats. Recent advancements in gene editing technology such as CRISPR have made it easier than ever to study chimeras and their possible benefits for human health. Since then, scientists have attempted to generate chimeras again and again for a growing list of scientific and medical applications. The first recorded success was in 1984, when scientists engineered a “ geep,” an organism with cells from both a goat and a sheep embryo. Scientists have been studying chimeras formed from different animals for over 30 years. And so, researchers were faced with the task of developing replacement organs that the human body won’t reject.Įnter the current state of chimera research. Unfortunately, the body may reject the pig valve, as the immune system sometimes sees the pig cells as “foreign” and mounts an attack. The pig is a natural choice for human transplantation, as many organs are quite similar in size and structure between human and pig. Other medical procedures produce chimeras that combine species! For instance, heart valves from pigs are already used in some surgeries to replace faulty valves in human hearts. After a patient receives one, their blood, which is produced by the transplanted marrow, carries DNA that is different from the DNA contained in the rest of their body’s cells.īut transplanting human tissue is just the tip of the iceberg. Because of this, you may in fact already be or know a chimera! For instance, anyone who has received a bone marrow transplant from another person qualifies. But don’t expect to see these fire-breathing monsters coming out of laboratories! In the medical world, a chimera refers to any living thing that is composed of cells from two or more organisms. In Ancient Greece, a Chimera was a mythological beast consisting of parts from different animals, such as the head of a lion and the body of a goat. Chimeras: mythological beasts or useful research tools? But what if the need for transplant waiting lists could be eliminated? Recent advances in a decades-old technology known as chimerism give reason to believe that this may be possible, curing diseases and improving well-being along the way. The wait is sometimes years long, despite many of the candidates being in critical condition. Every ten minutes, another person joins the list of hundreds of thousands waiting for organ transplants.
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