What is the meaning of the term chimera?
1 : a monster from Greek mythology that breathes fire and has a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a snake’s tail. 2 formal : something that exists only in the imagination and is not possible in reality Economic stability in that country is a chimera.
What does chimera mean in literature?
The term “chimera” has come to describe any mythical or fictional creature with parts taken from various animals, to describe anything composed of very disparate parts, or perceived as wildly imaginative, implausible, or dazzling.
What does the Chimaera do?
Chimaera seem to be opportunist feeders. Feeding mainly on bottom-dwelling invertebrates, such as crabs, molluscs, octopuses, marine worms and sea-urchins. Crushing them with their 3 rows of tooth plates. Like sharks, chimaera use electroreception to find their prey in the dark.
Can you eat Chimaera?
Chimaeras are edible and are sold as food in some areas. Their liver oil once provided a useful lubricant for guns and fine instruments. Chimaeras are thought to have emerged in the aftermath of the Devonian extinctions that ended some 360 million years ago.
What is an example of a chimera?
The most widely known examples of twin chimerism are blood chimeras. These individuals are produced when blood anastomoses (connections) form between the placentas of dizygotic twins, thereby enabling the transfer of stem cells between the developing embryos.
What is the dictionary definition of a chimera?
English Language Learners Definition of chimera. : a monster from Greek mythology that breathes fire and has a lion’s head, a goat’s body, and a snake’s tail.
How is a chimera different from a fire breathing monster?
In human beings, a chimera is a person who has two totally different sets of DNA inside their body. It’s a bit less dramatic than a fire-breathing monster, sure, but it’s still pretty wild.
How are Chimeras created in the research lab?
In the research lab, chimeras are created by introducing cells from one species into the developing embryo or fetus of another. (The name chimera comes from Greek mythology and describes a creature with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent).
How are a chimera and a hybrid different?
Hybrids and chimeras are biologically different. A cell from a chimera contains the genetic material of either one parent species or the other. While each cell from a hybrid animal, such as a mule, contains genetic material from both parent species.
