Chimeras are a type of human born with strains of animal DNA, often causing them to sport traits of the given animal.
Their origins lie within the hubris of the Red Herring, using STEM cell research to play god and create hybrids for their own nefarious to outright sickening purposes.
There are two types of chimera, the lab kind and the natural kind.
Lab chimeras are chimeras typically created and produced by the Red Herring faction. When the labs of the Red Herring were raided, the decision was swiftly made to abort the chimeras, rather than let them finish development.
However, a number of chimeras slipped through the cracks.
For many years, chimeras were subject to a lacklustre support system, often the only aid offered was euthanasia, as their lives were regarded as tragic faults for failing to spare them from the cruelty of the Red Herring.
Therians on the other hand, expressed interest in chimeras, for their potential capability to aid them in achieving the bodies they yearned for to reflect their identity.
With the population of chimeras already staggeringly low, and progressively declining with many opting for euthanasia, the therians turned down by many academic institutions, turned to EPIE for their research.
From here, EPIE became a support system for chimeras, with therians dedicating as much research to the wellness of their subjects, as they were to themselves.
It wasn't long, before it was discovered that chimeras naturally produce STEM cells, and thus, prove to be great resources for STEM cells and research relating to it.
This discovery was kept under wraps until EPIE could draft a list of demands regarding the well-being of chimeras, going onwards.
Among those demands was a proper support system for chimeras.
Unintentionally, EPIE became the support system, as a matter of convenience, as no one else had researched chimeras as extensively, and chimeras would not accept or cooperate with anyone else, their trust in their own governments shattered by their apathetic response to their suffering outside of suggesting putting them down, until they were suddenly so useful.
Thus, EPIE gets a majority of it's funding from their position as the branch of society that handles chimeras.
Majority of lab chimeras were among the first generation after the Hysteria, and thus, many have since passed. What few are still around, are usually due to special circumstances, either longer lifespans, or smuggled out of labs to later develop to fruition.
The more strains of DNA, the more unstable, physically and mentally, they are prone to being.
The record for the most strains of DNA is nine, so far…
Much of the research recovered by therians into their creation is HEAVILY redacted and kept under lock and key by EPIE.
It was assumed that chimeras were made, not born, but this was soon disproven when the offspring of a domestic therian, and a regular human, resulted in chimera offspring.
Understandably, this was alarming, with domestic therians putting off starting families until the full gravity of this discovery could be understood.
The first generation of natural chimeras were studied, with the conclusion looking progressively a lot less bleak, than their lab born counterparts.
For starters, typically therians will only have one strain of animal DNA to assume their identity, and thus, natural chimeras, while partially inheriting these animal traits, exhibit a lot less instability that comes from several conflicting strains artificially introduced during development.
This means natural chimeras have a significantly higher quality of life, than lab born chimeras, complications in mental and physical health are greatly reduced through their natural, over artificial, creation.
They still fall under the support system of EPIE, with majority of the first generation resulting from the initial therian researchers of EPIE and their human colleagues.
Though their offspring will be regular humans, unless they conceive with another chimera, research on that topic is still ongoing…
They, like lab chimeras, also naturally produce STEM cells, and thus, are vital to the research and development of STEM cell technology and medicine.
Chimeras psychology is often mistaken for neurodivergence as the line between humans and animals is often blurred for them.
They will speak to humans and animals in roughly the same manner, holding lengthy conversations with their pets or common outdoor animals, while speaking to people in ways that may be considered rude or patronizing.
Both lab and natural born chimeras are subject to anxiety disorders and extreme stress, through environmental/social pressures, as well as their DNA playing a part.
DNA of wild animals especially poses a risk, and depending on the animal, this risk becomes greater.
Chimeras respond to stress differently than regular humans, their fight or flight feeling significantly stronger under stress.
An example would be a chimera with the DNA of a reptile may drop their tail when trying to leave a stressful social situation, if grabbed, their perception of the other person is warped into that of a predator, and thus, they drop their tail.
Another example, a chimera with DNA of a small prey animal, is drastically more prone to self harm to cope with stress, similar to a mouse chewing it's own tail off to escape from a trap, chimeras will harm themselves under the logic it will help them 'escape'.
The more strains of DNA, the more unstable a chimera is, mentally and physically.
This is exacerbated if the strains of DNA come from conflicting sources. Mixing predator with prey, mixing across classes (eg. mammals, birds, reptiles) and conflicting lifestyles and body types (eg. clam and carp. One is an invertebrate that thrives at the bottom of bodies of water, the other is a vertebrate that actively swims a lot more often.)
Some chimeras may be muzzled by EPIE or, often incorrectly, law enforcement, as like therians, they do posses a biting instinct, and depending on the DNA, some chimeras may be venomous, or possess extreme bite forces and behaviours that warrant such measures.
The laws regarding chimeras are not the same across the globe, but some common laws and regulations are…
Their paperwork, such as passports and birth certificates, MUST state they are a chimera, depending on the laws, this may extend as far as job applications and housing.
In terms of housing, landlords commonly require to be informed of chimeras, though they are not allowed to inform residents who the chimera is.
EPIE maintains an open public registry of chimeras, so long as you have the name, you can find their file.
Beyond the basic information such as DNA strains, the extent of their file unredacted is up to the discretion of the chimera and EPIE.
Their files are blocked when they are detained and/or under investigation.
The animalistic nature and behaviour of chimeras holds up in court as a valid defence for their actions, should they stand trial for crimes such as assault or murder.
Chimera hate crimes are gradually getting legal recognition.
Chimeras with a history of assault may be subject to indefinite custody under EPIE, or treatments to 'declaw' them, such as venomous chimeras getting their teeth pulled.
In a similar vain, chimeras with extreme strength may be legally required to take muscle suppressants.
If a chimera has snapped, but still walks free after police intervention, then the affected party may file a complaint to EPIE, who will launch their own investigation into the viability for that chimera to remain free.
Typically EPIE will detain and hold chimera in custody during such investigations.
Chimera are in a grey area of human rights, with EPIE capable of holding them in their custody against their will, legally.
Should the investigation conclude with the chimera leaving custody, affected parties are offered the chance to draft up a list of conditions for release the chimera must follow, these conditions can be negotiated between the chimera, EPIE and the affected party.
