chimera

In biology, an organism composed of tissues that are genetically different. Chimeras can develop naturally if a mutation occurs in a cell of a developing embryo, but are more commonly produced artificially by implanting cells from one organism into the embryo of another.

In the context of cloning research, chimeras between different animal species have been produced. In 2003, Chinese researchers stirred controversy with the production of an early stage embryo combining rabbit and human parts.

chimera

In Greek mythology, a fire-breathing animal with a lion's head and foreparts, a goat's middle, a dragon's rear, and a tail in the form of a snake; hence any apparent hybrid of two or more creatures. The chimera was killed by the hero Bellerophon on the winged horse Pegasus.

Artistic representations sometimes show the beast with a goat's head rising from its back. The origin of the myth may be linked to a volcano of the same name near Phaselis in Lycia.