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Fertilization and Early Embryonic Errors

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Chimerism

Abstract

Whole-body chimeras arise due to aberrant processes during fertilization and early embryogenesis. The genetically distinct cell populations may be distributed through the organism in varying relative proportions in different tissues giving rise to highly variably manifestations of chimerism. In many cases several equally valid mechanisms could have resulted in the observed genetic abnormalities. Cases of individuals with distinct cell lines may represent true chimerism and true mosaicism or may be considered on a spectrum in between the two. Dispermic chimeras have to date been the most widely identified group of whole-body chimeras because the distinct genetic contribution from the two sperm is quite easily identified.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA

    Nicole L. Draper MD & Kristy Crooks PhD, FACMG

  2. Transfusion Services, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, CO, USA

    Nicole L. Draper MD

  3. Colorado Center for Personalized Medicine Biobank, Aurora, CO, USA

    Kristy Crooks PhD, FACMG

  4. Colorado Molecular Correlates Laboratory, Aurora, CO, USA

    Kristy Crooks PhD, FACMG

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  1. Nicole L. Draper MD
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Correspondence to Nicole L. Draper MD .

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  1. Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA

    Nicole L. Draper

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Draper, N.L., Crooks, K. (2018). Fertilization and Early Embryonic Errors. In: Draper, N. (eds) Chimerism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89866-7_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89866-7_1

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