Chimeras And Transgenic Organisms

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https://www.basicgestalt.com/single-post/2017/07/06/Chimeras-And-Transgenic-Organisms-What-Are-They

>People often dismiss the subject of chimeras as a myth or just some nutcase conspiracy. But, the joke's on them: it's real and this kind of genetic manipulation is happening every day in laboratories across the world.

>A genetic chimerism or chimera (also spelled chimaera) is a single organism composed of cells from different zygotes. This can result in male and female organs, two blood types, or subtle variations in form. Animal chimeras are produced by the merger of multiple fertilized eggs. In plant chimeras, however, the distinct types of tissue may originate from the same zygote, and the difference is often due to mutation during ordinary cell division. Normally, genetic chimerism is not visible on casual inspection; however, it has been detected in the course of proving parentage.

>Back in January, a few mainstream news outlets reported on human-pig chimera embryos.

>Transgenic organisms: Modern genetic technology can be used to modify the genomes of living organisms. This process is also known as 'genetic engineering.' Genes of one species can be modified, or genes can be transplanted from one species to another. Genetic engineering is made possible by recombinant DNA technology. Organisms that have altered genomes are known as transgenic. Most transgenic organisms are generated in the laboratory for research purposes. For example, 'knock-out' mice are transgenic mice that have a particular gene of interest disabled. By studying the effects of the missing gene, researchers can better understand the normal function of the gene.