Happy Mother's Day! It turns out you share more than just genes with Mom

As we all thank our Mothers today for the love and sacrifices (not the least of which was carrying you inside her for the better part of a year) made throughout the years on our behalf, research suggests we share a bit more that genes and memories with our mothers. During pregnancy, a process called fetal-mother microchimerism facilitates an exchange of cells between mother and baby and at birth both have a little piece of the other as a little memento, if you will, of the nine month journey.


Research has shown that cells from developing fetuses can be found throughout a mother's brain, bones, in circulating blood and within her heart. In fact, if the heart is damaged, fetal cells that migrate toward the heart may be involved in some repair processes. According to Laura Sanders from Science News, this fetal contribution of cells to the mother maybe a form of payback for all the baby takes from the mother during gestation.


"Growing fetuses slurp nutrients and energy out of a mother’s body during pregnancy (not to mention the morning sickness, heartburn and body aches). In return, fetuses offer up these young, potentially helpful cells. Perhaps these fetal cells, which may possess the ability to turn into lots of different kinds of cells, can help repair a damaged heart, liver or thyroid, as some studies have hinted."


However, this is not a one-way cel sharing process, as the mother will also have cells migrate into the fetus which means cells contributed by older siblings to your mom during their gestation could end up in you along with those specifically from your mother during yours. Some evidence suggests microchimerism may influence detrimental processes such as miscarriages, but much more research is needed to better understand this process overall.


So, this Mother's Day, remember there really is a part of you in her and her in you, in addition the the genetics that bind us as family. Just another reason to appreciate all she has done for you, and how you have been important in her life.


Gammill and Nelson (2010) Naturally acquired microchimerism. Int J Dev Biol. 2010; 54(2-3): 531–543.://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2887685/

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