The mythological Chimera is a fire breathing, lion-like creature that has a goat’s head emerging from its spine and a tail that ends in a snake’s head. The Greek poet Hesiod created this description in his Theogony, a work describing the origins of the first Greek people.

A chimera is also a genetic phenomenon where an organism contains genetically different cells in various parts of its body. Since most every organism is comprised of cells with identical genetic material, the presence of different genes could pose significant problems related to DNA testing. That’s what happened to Lydia Fairchild.

• Lydia Fairchild: She’s Her Own Twin – ABC Primetime

Discussion Questions: 

• How much of our identity is tied to our genetic makeup and predisposition? How much is given to us by the family that raised us and the communities in which we’ve lived? (This is the “nature versus nurture” debate).
• “DNA evidence is infallible.” Ordinarily, we accept this statement as absolutely true; for instance, DNA evidence has been used numerous times in the Innocence Project in order to reverse wrongful death-penalty or life-imprisonment cases. In this instance, the DNA evidence – while true – lead to the wrong conclusion. Why is it important to critically examine even the most solidly formed evidence? What are the kinds of questions you might ask about the DNA evidence in this case?
• What is an example of something you’ve encountered as false on the first impression but that later turned out to be true (this could be anything from a “capital-T” Truth to an opinion of taste)?

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