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In Greek mythology, the Chimera is a monstrous creature made of the parts of multiple animals. See Chimera (mythology); for the locations called Chimaera in antiquity, see Chimera (mythology)#Theory about origin.

The term chimera or chimeric is often used metaphorically to describe things that have combined attributes from different sources. In genetics, for example, an organism or tissue created from two or more different genetic sources is called chimeric, as in transplant patients with organs from other donors. Most other usages are related to this metaphor.

The word chimera is also generally accepted to mean an unreal ambition, a fanciful scheme, or even a castle in the air. This is in clear contrast with its old meaning of a bogey or an irrational fear.

In science

• In animal biology, a chimera is a single animal organism with genetically distinct cells from two different zygotes.
• In botany, a chimera is a single plant organism with genetically distinct cells.
• In Computational Fluid Dynamics, a chimera grid method is a technique to use overlapping non-aligned grids to simplify grid generation.
• In biochemistry, a chimera is a hybrid protein made by splicing two genes.
• In paleontology, a chimera is a fossil with elements from more than one creature, like the Ultrasauros and perhaps the Protoavis.
• In virology, a chimera is a virus containing genetic material from other organisms.
• In zoology, a chimaera is a group of cartilaginous fish related to sharks.

In art and design

• In architecture, a chimera is ornamental sculpture attached to a building similar to a gargoyle but which does not work as a water spout and is only decorative in nature.
• In art and design, chimera is a very pale purple or lavender color—a term mainly used when referring to painting. Chimera, known as a base color, is made up of a mixture of two or more colors. Another base color is magnolia, which is also a common color used to paint the walls of houses, etc. when they are first built.
• As a noun, chimera means a grotesque product of the imagination.
• Chimaeras is a cycle of oil paintings by Lena Hades.

In business

• In the automobile industry, the Chimaera is a model of sports car made by TVR.
• On the internet, Chimera is the older name of a Mozilla-based web browser for Mac OS X. It is now called Camino.
• Chimera is a brand of lighting equipment used in photography and the film/video industry.

In fiction

• Chimera was a 1972 novel by John Barth.
• In the Star Wars universe, Chimaera was an Imperial Star Destroyer.
• The Chimera is an APC of the Imperial Guard in the table-top wargame Warhammer 40,000. (see Imperial Guard (Warhammer 40,000))
• In the movie Mission: Impossible II, Chimera was the name of the virus on which the plot was based.
• In the video game Resident Evil, a chimera is a mutated insect-like creature with long arms and claws that hangs from ceilings.
• In the sci-fi series Stargate SG-1, "Chimera" is a season 7 episode.
• The anime series Fullmetal Alchemist features chimeras in many story arcs. In the series they are created by the combination of multiple species through the use of alchemy.
• The title of a season 7 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode, "Chimera."

In music

• In heavy metal music, Chimaira is a band from Cleveland, Ohio.
• In New Age or electronica music,
  • Chimera is an album by Delerium.
  • Chimera is also a compilation album by Bill Nelson.
• In black metal music,
  • Chimera is an album by Mayhem.
  • and Chimera is a band from the United States.
• In folk music, Chimera was a short-lived English band that released one album in 1969.
• Chimera is the title of a song by Canadian rock band The Tea Party.

• Disambiguation pages