Ever since she was born, Taylor Muhl’s left and right torso have two different colours, with the interface running right down the midline on the front of her torso. Her family and doctors had thought the colours were simply a large birthmark. However, when Muhl became an adult, she discovered the reality of her self.
The American singer and model’s cell was discovered to have absorbed her twin sister’s in their mother’s womb, which left her carrying two genetics in her own body – hers and her twin sisters’. This medical abnormality, called Human Chimerism, is known to be rare with only 30–100 cases documented in the world, as reported by Wikipedia.
In her teenage and young adult years, the dancer suffered autoimmune health challenges and continued to go undiagnosed by every doctor she saw, who told her the physical traits were just a birthmark. This continued until 2009 when she was diagnosed by a doctor who had previous experience in genetics and medical rarities.
According to her, diagnosis revealed she was a girl-girl twin but her own genes see her twin sister’s as a foreign matter, hence there is always an attack of hers on her twin’s. “Through chromosome testing it was determined I was a girl/girl twin. Due to the fusion, I carry my twins genetic makeup within my own body. I’ve been told I have two sets of genetic makeup, two sets of immune and blood cells, along with other unusual physical attributes.
With my particular case of Chimerism, my doctors believe my body reacts to my twins’ DNA and cells as foreign matter. Because of that, it compromises my immune system making it lower than the average person causing me many autoimmune health issues. Also, I have sensitivities to foods, medications, supplements, jewelry, insect bites etc. This doesn’t mean all Chimeras will or do have health, autoimmune issues or sensitivities.
I feel the most interesting aspect of my condition is my physical trait. Not all chimeras will have an outward physical trait, and you can still be a Chimera not having one. Chimerism can be difficult to detect with or without a physical trait, but easier with one, than without. I was born with a physical trait that causes me to have two different colors of skin pigmentation that split down the center of my torso, front and back, but only on the left side of my body. I’ve been told the second color pigmentation is my twin sisters’ genetic makeup. It’s always visible on my torso, but it can become more or less prominent when my body temperature changes.
Read also:Â KOKO Monthly Initiative: Five Things You Need To Know About Autism
Some other physical traits I have, that are only on the left side of my body are a double tooth, and everything is slitty bigger on the left side of my body, verse the right side. Also, I have food, jewelry, and insect bite sensitivities that react different on the left side of my body, verses on the right side of my body“, she wrote.
