Organisms that contain cells or tissues from another individual of the same or a different species are called chimeras. A common example of a chimera is a mouse that has been injected with some human cells so that it can be used for studying a human disease or testing a new drug. A person who has had a blood transfusion or a person who has received a heart valve transplant from a pig is technically a chimera, as well. The making of chimeras for research has unique ethical implications that have been the topic of discussions among scientists, ethicists and the public, especially when the chimeras contain both human and animal cells.
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