Chimera

I don't know if any of you noticed from the last post but GiGi has some pretty interesting markings. So interesting that her veterinarian suspects what I had begun to: that she may be a chimera. A tetragametic chimera, to be more specific, where two unique zygotes merge very soon after fertilization and combine to form one organism with two unique sets of DNA. 

Her giveaway is that her markings on her left and right sides seem independent of each other. In fact, it almost looks like there is a line right down the middle of her body. 

It took me a long time to see it. The markings on her dorsal side aren't very defined and her color came in late. But it's pretty clear on her thorax and abdomen. And once you see it you can't unsee it.

It will be interesting to see what happens once her adult coat comes in and her markings are even more defined. I'll have to get some better photos. 

We always knew she was special!