Could Chris Have His Donor’s Child?
Why did Chris’s sperm alter since transplants aren’t supposed to impact it? According to Mehrdad Abedi, Chris’ doctor, his sperm alteration was most likely caused by his vasectomy. Because sperm cannot migrate, their DNA changes. Would the same result occur if Chris had not undergone a vasectomy? We don’t know, and scientists can’t test it on Chris. Previously, sperm DNA studies revealed the donor’s DNA rather than the patient’s. Time will tell.
Could Chris Have His Donor’s Child
Chimeras Can Occur Naturally
Human chimeras are not just the product of bone marrow transplantation. For example, there is a “vanishing twin,” which occurs when one fraternal embryo dies prematurely. The remaining embryo absorbs the twin’s DNA, giving the infant two sets of DNA. Some pregnant mothers may retain some of their baby’s DNA. This trait, known as microchimerism, affects approximately 63% of women, including those beyond 94 years old. The New York Times describes microchimerism as “very common, if not universal.”
Chimeras Can Occur Naturally
