NY Times article - DNA Double Take

[ahimsa]

Link to a NY Times article multiple genomes being found more and more often in a single person:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/17/science/dna-double-take.html

A short extract:

From biology class to “C.S.I.,” we are told again and again that our genome is at the heart of our identity.
...
But scientists are discovering that — to a surprising degree — we contain genetic multitudes. Not long ago, researchers had thought it was rare for the cells in a single healthy person to differ genetically in a significant way. But scientists are finding that it’s quite common for an individual to have multiple genomes. Some people, for example, have groups of cells with mutations that are not found in the rest of the body. Some have genomes that came from other people.
...
Scientists are finding links from multiple genomes to certain rare diseases, and now they’re beginning to investigate genetic variations to shed light on more common disorders.

 

[leela]

Thanks, Ahimsa. Science slowly catches up with Reality

 

[xchocoholic]

This gives a whole new meaning to multiple personality disorder. ; )

So does this mean that as the youngest of 5 children, I could have dna from each of my siblings ?

I wonder how else our dna are affected.

Interesting research. Tx for posting this. X

 

[Iquitos]

The chimera is not new but interest in it and the explanations for it may be. And if humans and cats can do it, why not retroviruses, viruses, etc? Humans have been found to have different DNA on their hands, for instance, than in their saliva, making those DNA-solved crimes questionable, in some cases.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimera_(genetics)


Venus, the chimeric cat:
http://www.newstatesman.com/sci-tech/2012/11/venus-two-faced-cat-really-chimera

 

[Sparrowhawk]

This finding gives great comfort to Gemini's everywhere.

 

[natasa778]

re "Later studies added support to the idea that cancer is a result of mutations in specific cells." - this actually may not be so, say the very latest studies In fact many genetic mutations found in various diseases may well turn out to be false positives (ie not linked to pathology at all). Wait and see ...

... specific precautions need to be taken in scientific analysis to account for the varying rates of mutations across genes in order to avoid false positives in cancer research. They state quite clearly that they believe a large number of genes which have reportedly been associated with various types of cancers are in fact not causally related to the conditions but are, in short, coincidental. Especially in the case of a disease like cancer which is characterized by a progressively disturbed and destabilized genome.. ...

 

[lansbergen]

Question nummer one; in the case of Y chromosomes in women, do these cells have 2 X and one Y or 1 X and one Y