These twins appear in different brindle patterns.

It is basically a condition when two embryos fuse to form a new horse. In genetics, a horse created from two different DNA types is called a chimera horse. A few horse species reported to be freemartin or under chimeric conditions. In genetics ‘’an organism with two distinct types of chromosomes is called a chimera’’.Chimerism is common in cattle where vascular communication between the placenta disturbed and produces freemartin calf.įreemartin condition is very rare in horses. In the biological study, chimaerism first observed in human beings later in cattle and other animals. National Purebred Spanish Horse Breeders made research on Spanish breeds to detect abnormal chromosomes in foals.

Last time in 1972 a research on horses done by boaters who demonstrated results that 44% of twins are born in this condition.Ĭhimerism is considered a pathological or abortion issue in horses, however not observed in large horses. It is an important chromosomal syndrome in animals but not investigated in horses. Its prevalence and reproductive effects are still unknown in horses.Ĭhimera is a genetic disorder in which two zygotes (fertilized eggs) combine after fertilization to form one single zygote that usually develops. However, a significant proportion of these cases still go undiagnosed, probably because the signs are non-specific and diagnosis is complicated.Īccording to the study team, this is the case with chimeric, strongly linked with twin births in domestic animals. It is known that chromosomal anomalies are one of the principal genetic causes of infertility in horses. The study team found that sexual chimerism in PREs is not linked to infertility, despite the unusual genetic configuration. The research, carried out at the universities of Seville and Cordova, focused on the recent breeding of purebred Spanish horses, the Pura Raza Español (PRE) breed. An individual carries two distinct genetic make-ups. Chimeras may also show a distinctive bi-colored coat.Ī study conducted at a Spanish university has cast a spotlight on the rarity among chimerism horses. The DNA test for male and dandruff samples can reveal two people, and the blood test will tell whether the specimen is a chimera. Whereas sometimes, as this phenomenon can be found in dogs and cattle, this distinctive coat is hereditary. This striking coat pattern is more typical for example, the twin embryos were bay and chestnut. Sometimes, chimeras have differentiated twigs in the coat. In cats and even humans, chimerism was also known Characteristics of Chimera Horse When the embryo grows naturally, body parts, tissues, etc., are made up of various DNA, resulting in a ”genetic mosaic” organism whose body comprises a combination of cells of two different genotypes. A chimera is a horse formed from two genetically-different DNA forms, which occurs when non-identical twin embryos merge into one at an early stage of development.

Chimera animal