Mmastodon ScienceBiology first seen 9 h ago, last 13 min ago, peak #7

Pregnancy leaves lasting genetic traces, chimerism explainer resonates

Original: # ICYMI : If you've ever been pregnant, you're a chimera. I've known this for several years. But what this article taugh

A biology explainer about fetal microchimerism is being shared widely. During pregnancy, cells from the fetus can cross the placenta and remain in the mother's body for years or even decades, meaning mothers can carry genetic material from embryos, including those lost very early to miscarriage, and may even pass such cells to later children. Readers are reacting with surprise that decades-old pregnancies, even ones ending at six weeks, can leave a lasting genetic imprint.

Why now: The surprising claim that all mothers are chimeras, including after early miscarriage, is prompting discussion and sharing.

fetal microchimerism

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Evidence

• # ICYMI : If you've ever been pregnant, you're a chimera. I've known this for several years. But what this article taught me is that even though I miscarried at 6 weeks more than 20 years ago, I might still harbor that embryo's genetic material -- and might have passed it to my… · courtcan · 28

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