But Identifying Chimeras Is Very Difficult
To make problems worse, it is difficult to determine whether someone is a chimera. In 2015, parents realized that their newborn’s blood type and DNA did not match their own. They suspected that the clinic had used incorrect sperm. Stanford geneticist Barry Starr suggested that the couple get a DNA test. Oddly, the test revealed that the father was the child’s uncle. “Human chimerism is very common, but exquisitely difficult to identify, coming to light almost exclusively by accidents like this,” explained biologist Charles Boklage to Buzzfeed News.
But Identifying Chimeras Is Very Difficult
How This Study Impacted The Future
Chris’s situation has swayed many people’s views on DNA tests. Previously, DNA tests were deemed infallible in the trial. However, the study reveals that typical situations may render DNA tests less reliable than previously supposed. Chimeras have no health or medical risks, but they impede criminal investigators who rely on DNA tests to identify a perpetrator. As more chimeric cases emerge, forensic experts will need to reconsider how they examine DNA evidence.
How This Study Impacted The Future
