Chimera Twins Story

skelley writes "Below is an audio link on this morning's story on NPR about Chimera twins, or people with two sets of DNA. It turns out that every once in a while a set of fraternal twin eggs merge into one embryo. The resulting person has two sets of DNA. The story says it is possible for a Chimera to have different sets of DNA in different body parts. This can cause complication for body identification, DNA typing for organ transplants, crime investigation, etc. Researchers have no idea how common this is, but suppose that it is a reasonable percentage of all fraternal twin pregnancies, which would mean millions worldwide. No text version. NPR often doesn't publish one. "

Comments

Hmm

[pantycrickets]

I would like to be able to decide which of the two sets of DNA are set as 'active' at a given time. That would be nice for things like murdering my wife and whoever she is sleeping with outside of our house, and then getting away with the crime.

If the DNA don't fit.. well.. uhh.. ahh shit.

There goes my number-one excuse

[hard2spell]

"My evil twin brother did it. Honest."

Re:There goes my number-one excuse

[haydon4]

But you get a new one.

"I AM my own evil twin."

How many other kids on the playground can say that?

Re:There goes my number-one excuse

[Waffle Iron]

Whenever you see someone who wears half of a goatee, it's a dead giveaway you're dealing with of these chimera twins. I don't see any issues with identifying them.

Re:crime investigation problems

[timbloid]

I find Gin to be a fitting punishment for a criminal liver...

finally, a valid excuse

[whorfin]

This is perfect for /. It's impossible to RTFA

Heehee

[Anonymous Coward]

No text version. NPR often doesn't publish one.

Oh ho ho, methinks they'll change their mind very shortly.

I **KNEW** it!

[DangerTenor]

O.J. is INNOCENT! It was my.... uhh.... other DNA...

Re:crime investigation problems

[grug0]

Really? I prefer fava beans and a nice chianti.

Micheal Jackson now makes sense

[Alcimedes]

It's just his white Chimera brother finally coming out after all these years.

picture

[morcheeba]

Cool! I found a picture of those striped mice. Some more pictures:

Closeup before eyes are formed.
In-vitro development in the lab.
Displaying remarkable inteligence as they swarm and are about to devour their much-bigger and unsuspecting prey (apparently striped mice are carnivorous)

Re:WHY TELL US YOU ARE ATHEIST???

[Psmylie]

Probably it was just a joke. The statement: "Thank god I'm an atheist" implies that the person believes in god.

Then again, maybe its because he is an atheist and wants people to be aware that there are differing viewpoints. A great many Christians in the US seem to think that everyone else in the country is also a Christian. Stating that you're an atheist is similar to driving around with a Jesus fish on your car.

And, just as an FYI, warning an atheist about hell has about as much effect as telling the average adult that if they misbehave, Santa won't bring them any presents. In other words, none.