In my case, I am a set of differently sexed twins which expressed physically as a true hermaphrodite. My DNA reads as 46XY + 46XX. The report says “True hermaphrodism by way of chimerism.”

You have no idea what sort of medical mess this creates from such complicated genetic soup. Be thankful you are a single set of normative 46 X?…because the alternatives are not a blessing. A case of Trisomy 21 means down’s syndrome and that is only one small quirk in an otherwise normal set of DNA. Imagine all the health disorders that happen when you have 46 extra chromosomes giving your body competing messages. I have struggled with all sorts of life-long serious and life-threatening issues as a result of this one condition. I will never have a normal life on any level as a result of a birth defect that I have no control over. I can’t see how anyone would see that as a blessing or an advantage.

It is a mere assumption that being chimera means that you have a redundant system that gives health advantages. The truth is my XX cells often attack my XY cells as foreign invaders which causes deathly health related drama in my life! It is literally a war of the sexes a genetic case of sibling rivalry. But seriously, the idea that the tissues tolerate each other is somewhat of a myth. Some do but some do not and as a result a person like myself suffers much and is far higher risk of cancers and auto immune disorders. The blood seems to have cross immunity but not all cells in the body react that way.

There is so little know of my specific condition…with only 40 known of cases in the world that are documented –it is not as if there is a huge historical repository of information. Maybe chimerism is more common and undetected with a same-sexed twin sets…it would be virtually impossible to know this without wide spread DNA testing…but they have only know human chimerism was possible since 2000. They stumbled onto this by accident due to abnormal tests with fertility clinics doing IVF. A case like mine would be more evident because of the expression of non-normative external organs..but in cases of same-sexed chimerism…it could be very common.

I suspect that people like myself tend to die before they ever have a chance to be born because of the many very complicated health issues involved. The reason cases like Lydia and Karen make the news is that it is fascinating in an “Oh that is so frikkin’ freaky cool sort of way”. But someone like me– well my situation is not so glamorous and so nobody wants to speak about it or advertise it. I certainly don’t see the Opera show knocking on my door, or the doctors, or Barbara Walters….or Dr. Phil…and yet there are less than 8 cases out of 40 world wide of differently-sexed chimerism (hermaphrodite expression). I guess this is just as well the world isn’t ready and would be far to judgmental and I do not need the freak label applied to me ..my life is already to hard as is. I am not sure a talk show could do me justice or give me any dignity for the diversity that is in my DNA…not sure it could be handled gracefully.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5195551

That’s right! It’s a natural embryonic stem cell transplant!

Thanks so much for the information. Our daughter was diagnosed with split gender chimera in 2009. (a few days after birth) We have had to make decisions to remove testicular tissue in hopes that her body will not have hormones fighting against one another and to prevent cancer. We have decided not to operate on any external organs, because we feel she’s perfect and it should be her decision. I don’t feel any two people are alike, but I’m not sure if a slight difference in her external organs will be upsetting for her. Would you mind telling me your age and how you were told about the condition? I want to make the right decisions for our child, but there is so much that is unknown. I have found very little information and a lot fewer cases than you. I think people may think this condition sounds scary, but we just have to do the best with what the Lord gives us. Our daughter is now 2, and she’s been very healthy. She seems to be a girly-girl, but I don’t know what she wills feel like inside as she grows up. She has that 46xxxy make-up, and I quess we will just have to wait and see.

True mosaicism results when chromosomes fail to segregate properly during embryonic cell division. The individual has some cells with a typical chromosome number, and some cells with an atypical chromosome number (i.e. an aneuploidy).

The top half of his eyes are blue, and the bottom half brown.

He has to take immune-system suppressants to stop his body rejecting various organs, so he always has a cold.

Her new marrow came from stem cells harvested from her brother and infused into her own blood stream.

She now has her brother’s blood flowing through her body.

I guess that makes her a chimera.

Another example is probably Corky, the guy with Downs syndrome, from the TV show Life Goes On. His trisomy 21 probably didn’t occur until later on and thus only a part of him has Downs. Thus he appears, and is, much more high functioning (can act, memorize scripts) than the vast majority of people with Downs syndrome.

No this is wrong, calico cats are not technically chimeras, the pattern is caused by X-inactivation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-inactivation

Peter

Dr. House knew what it was all along and just didn’t bother to tell anyone until the end of the episode, because of how he is such a smug, yet (supposedly) lovable, jerk.