Lydia Fairchild (born 1976) is an American woman who exhibits chimerism, having two distinct populations of DNA among the cells of her body. She was pregnant with her third child when she and the father of her children, Jamie Townsend, separated. When Fairchild applied for enforcement of child support in 2002, providing DNA evidence of Townsend's paternity was a routine requirement. While the results showed Townsend to certainly be their father, they seemed to rule out her being their mother.
Fairchild stood accused of fraud by either claiming benefits for other people's children, or taking part in a surrogacy scam, and records of her prior births were put similarly in doubt. Prosecutors called for her two children to be taken away from her, believing them not to be hers. As time came for her to give birth to her third child, the judge ordered that an observer be present at the birth, ensure that blood samples were immediately taken from both the child and Fairchild, and be available to testify. Two weeks later, DNA tests seemed to indicate that she was also not the mother of that child.
A breakthrough came when her defense attorney,[1] Alan Tindell, learned of Karen Keegan, a chimeric woman in Boston, and suggested a similar possibility for Fairchild and then introduced an article in the New England Journal of Medicine about Keegan.[2][3] He realized that Fairchild's case might also be caused by chimerism. As in Keegan's case, DNA samples were taken from members of the extended family. The DNA of Fairchild's children matched that of Fairchild's mother to the extent expected of a grandmother. They also found that, although the DNA in Fairchild's skin and hair did not match her children's, the DNA from a cervical smear test did match. Fairchild was carrying two different sets of DNA, the defining characteristic of chimerism.
^Yu, Neng; et al. (May 16, 2002). "Disputed Maternity Leading to Identification of Tetragametic Chimerism". New England Journal of Medicine. 346 (20): 1545–1552. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa013452. PMID 12015394.
^Rowlands, Letitia. . Essential Baby. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
Further readingedit
ABC News: She's Her Own Twin Article on Fairchild
Kids' DNA Tested, Parent Informed The DNA Is Not A Match Article on Fairchild's case
The Stranger Within New Scientist Article on Karen Keegan's case
Discussion on Tetragametic Humans
DNA Tests Shed Light on 'Hybrid Humans' NPR recording.
This United States biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
lydia, fairchild, born, 1976, american, woman, exhibits, chimerism, having, distinct, populations, among, cells, body, pregnant, with, third, child, when, father, children, jamie, townsend, separated, when, fairchild, applied, enforcement, child, support, 2002. Lydia Fairchild born 1976 is an American woman who exhibits chimerism having two distinct populations of DNA among the cells of her body She was pregnant with her third child when she and the father of her children Jamie Townsend separated When Fairchild applied for enforcement of child support in 2002 providing DNA evidence of Townsend s paternity was a routine requirement While the results showed Townsend to certainly be their father they seemed to rule out her being their mother Fairchild stood accused of fraud by either claiming benefits for other people s children or taking part in a surrogacy scam and records of her prior births were put similarly in doubt Prosecutors called for her two children to be taken away from her believing them not to be hers As time came for her to give birth to her third child the judge ordered that an observer be present at the birth ensure that blood samples were immediately taken from both the child and Fairchild and be available to testify Two weeks later DNA tests seemed to indicate that she was also not the mother of that child A breakthrough came when her defense attorney 1 Alan Tindell learned of Karen Keegan a chimeric woman in Boston and suggested a similar possibility for Fairchild and then introduced an article in the New England Journal of Medicine about Keegan 2 3 He realized that Fairchild s case might also be caused by chimerism As in Keegan s case DNA samples were taken from members of the extended family The DNA of Fairchild s children matched that of Fairchild s mother to the extent expected of a grandmother They also found that although the DNA in Fairchild s skin and hair did not match her children s the DNA from a cervical smear test did match Fairchild was carrying two different sets of DNA the defining characteristic of chimerism See also editMater semper certa estReferences edit She s Her Own Twin ABC News August 15 2006 Yu Neng et al May 16 2002 Disputed Maternity Leading to Identification of Tetragametic Chimerism New England Journal of Medicine 346 20 1545 1552 doi 10 1056 NEJMoa013452 PMID 12015394 Rowlands Letitia When your unborn twin is your children s mother Essential Baby Archived from the original on March 1 2014 Retrieved February 26 2014 Further reading editABC News She s Her Own Twin Article on Fairchild Kids DNA Tested Parent Informed The DNA Is Not A Match Article on Fairchild s case The Stranger Within New Scientist Article on Karen Keegan s case Genetic Mosaics Discussion on Tetragametic Humans DNA Tests Shed Light on Hybrid Humans NPR recording nbsp This United States biographical article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lydia Fairchild amp oldid 1182042002, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
