Chimaera

Chimaera, also spelled chimera, is a term used for several different concepts in mythology, zoology, and genetics. In Greek mythology, the Chimera is a monstrous hybrid, typically described as a fire-breathing creature with the body of a lion, a goat’s head rising from its back, and a serpent for a tail. In ancient stories it was defeated by the hero Bellerophon with the help of Pegasus, and it came to symbolize hybrid monstrosities.

In zoology, chimaera refers to a group of cartilaginous fishes known as ghost sharks or chimera, belonging to the order Chimaeriformes. They are distant relatives of sharks and rays, with a cartilaginous skeleton, a long slender body, a large head, and a pair of pectoral fins. Gill openings are located on the head as a series of slits. They inhabit temperate and deep waters worldwide, often at depths from hundreds to thousands of meters, feeding on invertebrates and small fishes. Most species are oviparous, laying leathery eggs that hatch in the environment.

In genetics and developmental biology, a chimera is an organism containing cells with genetically distinct identities, arising from the fusion of two or more zygotes or from transplantation. Natural chimerism occurs in various species, including humans, and can remain undetected without genetic testing. Chimeras are studied to understand tissue compatibility, immune function, and development. The term is also used in popular culture to describe fantastical hybrids, but scientifically it denotes organisms with more than one genetic lineage.