D'Costa,+E.

A chimera is an organisms that contains at least two different sets of DNA, usually fused by multiple zygotes. This term is derived from Greek mythology, where a creature would be made of incongruous parts. Chimeras occurs in humans as well and may be more common then we think, not all cases are as noticeable. They can have internal and external indications such as different coloured eyes, patches of colour and having signs of hermaphroditism. In dispermic chimeras, two different egg cells are fertilized normally resulting in fraternal twins. However it fuses or is absorbed together creating a cells with two sets of DNA. There are many other forms of chimeras with small variations.( micro chimeras and androgenetic chimeras)
 * __Genetic Chimeras__**



Chimera mouse with two different coloured eyes, from two embryos



Greek mythology of a chimera

media type="youtube" key="eSMQcy5ReQQ" width="560" height="315"

Interspecific species usually don’t occur naturally however scientist have already formed artificial chimeras. In 1989, at the University of California, scientists made the first sheep- goat hybrid called the “geep”. The difference between a hybrid and a chimera, is a hybrid comes from two different species and has two parents. Chimeras have for parents since they are two embryos fused together. Experiments have been conducted to make a human- nonhuman chimera. In August 2003, Hui Zen Sheng at the Shanghai Second Medical University created the first human- rabbit chimera. This is useful because it helps understanding and developing of regenerative medicines. However there is many moral, ethical and public health concerns debating on the matter.



Geep hybrid, read more about geeps and the difference between hybrids and chimeras.

Chimera cat (mosaic )


 * More about experiment of chimeras and hybrid and their contribution to medicines.


 * Small history of chimeras and their blood type


 * Geep hybrid, read more about geeps and the difference between hybrids and chimeras.




 * Mythology of chimeras

Sources [|https://www.ahc.umn.edu/img/assets/25857/chimeras.]

Pictures






 * __catastrophism vs. uniformitarianism__**

Catastrophism was discovered by a zoologist and naturalist Georges Cuvier. He made lots of progress on our understanding of the Earth’s history, with the study of sedimentary rock layers and fossil succession. Cuvier was knows for studying the bones of elephant and compared it to mammoths. He even named the first flying reptile and pterodactyl. Curvier classified animals into four branches, : Vertebrata Articulata ([|__arthropods__] and [|__segmented worms__]), Mollusca, and Radiata ([|__cnidarians__] and [|__echinoderms__]). However he believed that the earth was only a few million years old! George’s science community and spiritual up bringing was a large factor in his research. Curvier used the bible to form his idea of catastrophism. His theory is that Earth’s features are mostly accounted for by violent large scale event that happened in a short period of time. Many scientists of their time thought that the features of the world where created that way. George Cuvier



media type="youtube" key="P3GagfbA2vo" width="560" height="315"

History of George Curvier

The study of Catastrophism



James Hutton was a geologist and physicist and proposed the opposite idea, uniformitarianism. This theory is that most of the Earth’s surface features were made by slow, ongoing processes. This conflict the proposition of Cuvier that catastrophic event shape the landscapes. Hutton believed that the processes that happened long ago was still happening today over the same time frame, he is even considered being the “ofather of Modern Geology”. The theory of uniformitarianism was studying also by Charles Lyell, who wrote the detail in his book principles of Geology. They conducted that the Earth was billions of years old and fossil records showed the existence of organisms that were thought to be alive at one point. The conclusion was that evolution was organisms changing over a long period of time.

James Hutton

More about uniformitarianism and Charles Lyell

History of Geology

[|http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Uniformitarianism&view=detailv2&&id=B4FE9FC08338A5A4D470BC191B8423E153F443FB&selectedIndex=4&ccid=J7JhDLCk&simid=] [|608020873386134519&thid=OIP.M27b2610cb0a4cdc8be16c825c5485a13H0&ajaxhist=]

[]

[|http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=george+cuvier&view=detailv2&&id=F9555507F1F243D6F8A7E2A861274D2D238A3DF0&selectedIndex=5&ccid=R7w1FRao&simid=608040183562766267&thid] [|=OIP.M47bc351516a8a138a7abd70693fe93c8H2&ajaxhist]=




 * __Epilepsy__**

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that affects people of all ages with recurrent, spontaneous seizures. There are many different types of epilepsy that all share seizures in common by an uncontrollable charge from the nerve cells located in the cerebral cortex. This part of the brain maneuvers multiple mental functions, movement and sensation, perception and reactions. It can be caused by inherited genetic factors or possibly by brain injuries such as head trauma. However, in many cases the cause is unknown.

Types of epilepsy Generalized seizure: occurs in both sides of the brain, in between seizures there is usually normal brain functions. This is due to the genetic factors. Partial seizure: in limited areas of the brain, forms at birth.



media type="youtube" key="6NcqQkKjqTI" width="560" height="315" Treatment: treatment has improved over the last 10 years for new drugs and alternative ways to handle epilepsy. Surgery: remove temporal lobe where seizures are most common, usually in teens and adults. There are other options for surgery removal located around the brain. It’s was found to reduce seizures by 60% while medication only was shown to reduce it by 8%. It is recommended for people in the early stages of epilepsy. There is a small device called the vague nerve stimulator (VNS) it is low risk and on the safe side. It sends electrical pulse to nerve in the neck and blocks brain impulses. https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=HQ0CYxPoTXY

FDA approves small device that helps cure epilepsy

Epilepsy Canada foundation Facts of epilepsy

History of epilepsy