chimär

Chimär is a term used in several European languages as the equivalent of the English word chimera. It denotes a being or thing that combines parts from different origins and is used in myth, science, and culture to describe hybridity or incongruity.

In classical mythology, a Chimär refers to the Chimera, a monster from Greek myth typically described as having the head of a lion, a goat’s body, and a serpent for a tail. The term has broadened to denote anything composed of incongruous parts.

In biology, a chimär (also chimera) is an organism that carries cells or tissues with genetically distinct cell lines, arising from the fusion of two fertilized eggs or from organ or bone marrow transplantation. The concept emphasizes genetic nonuniformity within a single individual.

In culture, literature and art, chimär figures are used as symbols of hybridity, paradox, or the challenge of assimilating incompatible elements.

See also Chimera Chimerism Hybrid.