Name: David P.
Status: Educator
Age: 40s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: May 2004
Question:
Although well out of the realm of my topic areas
(mathematics and computer applications), one of my students asked if I
had heard of two human eggs fertilizing each other. He claims that it is
a rare but possible phenomenon. Is such an occurrence possible? If so,
where can I learn more on this topic.
Replies:
Were your students perhaps watching the season finale of CSI??? They dealt with a rapist
who kept escaping prosecution because his semen DNA type did not match his blood DNA
type. Of course, he was caught in the end! I believe your students are referring to
the rare occurrence of human chimeras. They are actually the result of 2 embryos
fusing into one, instead of two eggs fusing. More info can be found at this link:
NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.