Chimaera

/kaɪˈmɪərə/ noun

Definition

A mythological fire-breathing monster with parts from multiple animals (typically a lion's head, goat's body, and serpent's tail), or any organism with cells from genetically different sources.

Etymology

From Greek Chimaira, possibly from 'chimas' (winter) or related to goats. In biology, the term was adopted in the 20th century to describe organisms with genetically distinct cell populations.

Kelly Says

Biological chimeras are real and fascinating—a human could have cells from a twin absorbed before birth, making them genetically two people in one body, though the mythological version with a lion's head is way cooler!

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