‘Amazing’ DNA oddity means I could frame my brother for murder
A WOMAN with two sets of DNA says she could frame her brother for murder by leaving blood he donated to her at the crime scene.
Chaitanya Bashyam, 21, saved Ananya’s life by transplanting his cells into her when she developed blood cancer.
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This means Ananya is medically referred to as a “chimera,” as the 24-year-old joked: “I will have two sets of DNA in my body forever.”
“So if I had left skin or hair at the crime scene, it would have been recognizable as mine. But if I left my blood, I could pin it on my brother.”
“It’s really crazy.”
In October 2021, Ananya was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after experiencing vision loss and fever.
“I just froze,” she said. “Part of me knew my life would never be the same after this, but I was determined to fight through.”
She received six weeks of chemotherapy and immunotherapy and was in remission by the end of the year.
Unfortunately, Ananya suffered a relapse in March 2022 and was told that a bone marrow transplant was her last option.
Luckily, her brother was 100% compatible and willing to help.
In July 2023, student Chaitanya donated his bone marrow, which replaced his sister’s damaged blood cells with his healthy ones.
“He actually saved my life,” she said.
Ananya, a former science teacher from Houston, Texas, USA, is currently recovering from her surgery and awaiting confirmation that she is cancer-free.
Once her immune system rebuilds, her blood type will be the same as her brother’s – O-negative.
Chimerism can only occur when a person removes a donor organ (although the donated DNA remains in the organ) or when one twin dies in the womb and the other absorbs its cells.
Ananya said, “I feel happy. They eliminated everything in my current immune system.”
“I have my own DNA in my skin and hair. My blood cells are my little brother’s DNA.”
“Your blood type changes and you can often develop the same allergies as your donor.”
Luckily, for all her talk, Ananya is a law-abiding citizen.
Chaitanya Bashyam
Ananya said exchanging DNA with her brother gave them a “deeper” connection.
“He’s my best friend,” she added.
“For me he is the person who is closest to me.”
And it also made her realize what kind of doctor she wanted to be in the future.
Ananya, who is starting medical school next year, said: “I’m really looking forward to using my passion and impacting people through medicine.”
Sharing his experience, Chaitanya said, “Hearing how much my best friend was struggling and not being able to help her was very hard.”
“Being Ananya’s stem cell donor was a given for me.
“During her treatment, I was always looking for ways to support her and this seemed like the ultimate way to do it.”
“The DNA exchange with Ananya is super interesting for me.
“The crime scene scenario is pretty funny.
“Fortunately, for all her talk, Ananya is a law-abiding citizen.”
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