With Permission from Scientific American
What is Microchimerism?
Microchimerism is the harboring of small numbers of cells that originated in a genetically different individual.
- During pregnancy some cells traffic from the mother to the fetus and from the fetus to the mother.
- Surprisingly, a small number of the mother’s cells persist in her offspring, including into adult life.
- And a small number of cells from prior pregnancies persist in mothers many years later.
It has only recently become apparent that naturally-acquired microchimerism is common in humans. A number of medical research teams are currently investigating both good and bad consequences of microchimerism in human health and disease.
"I contain multitudes" - Walt Whitman
This website gives an overview of microchimerism and provides links to research that has been done or is currently in progress on the subject.
The areas where microchimerism has been studied include:
reproduction, cancer, degenerative diseases, infectious diseases and transplantation
Coming soon..... New journal
Researchers Piecing Together Autoimmune Diseases Puzzle
New York Times, June 19, 2001
THE DOCTOR'S WORLD; Keeping Harmony in the Marriage of Cells
New York Times, January 12, 1999
Cells of Fetus Could Link Some Mothers To a Disease
New York Times, February 20, 1998
FETUS OFFERS CLUE ABOUT ARTHRITIS
New York Times, August 12, 1993
Get involved with microchimerism studies today!
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