You
may have noticed that there’s a growing trend towards body acceptance
and positivity and embracing all different types of looks. However, most
of the time this involves things like fuller figures, copious tattoos,
or strange piercings, rather than physical mutations. But now, people
who have interesting genetic mutations are sharing their stories in
hopes of raising awareness about the “new normal” when it comes to
bodies. Some of these mutations affect other animals as well. After you
see these 20 mutations, your idea of normal will be flipped upside down.
Double Muscle Mutation
There
have a been a few wild news stories about toddlers with super human
strength, and this genetic mutation explains why. When a child doesn’t
produce enough of a protein called myostatin, or else they don’t react
to it, they will become outrageously strong.
Chimeras
“Chimeras”
is a term from Greek mythology which refers to life forms with traits
from two different genetic components. It may show up as two different
coloured eyes, or different hair colors on the same creature. It is a
result of two eggs merging after conception, but it has also been seen
in blood cells and in plants.
Lesch–Nyhan Syndrome
About
one in 380,000 people are affected by this condition, which results in a
buildup of excess uric acid beneath the skin. It causes arthritis, as
well as kidney and bladder stones, but it also has neurological effects.
Those who suffer from it often exhibit self-mutilating behaviours.
Polycephaly
Polycephaly
is a congenital condition which results in an animal having two or more
heads. This is the result of multiple embryos fusing, and it is the
same phenomenon that results in conjoined twins.
Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis
This
condition occurs when a person has an extreme sensitivity to HPV, and
its effects produce scaly skin patches that are often compared to tree
bark. Only about 195 cases have ever been reported.
Ectrodactyly
What
was once known as “lobster claw hand” is actually ectrodactyly. It’s a
condition that causes a cleft to grow on the hands and feet where there
would normally be a finger or toe.
Reptilian Ativism
Although
we all have tails that somewhat resemble that of a reptile while we’re
developing in the womb, one man was born with a heart that was
structured like that of a reptile. He is one of only two people to have
ever had this condition.
Hypertrichosis
Only about 50 people in the world live with hypertrichosis, which causes excessive hair growth and hair covering the whole body.
Neon Pigs
Thanks
to scientific experiments that are deemed cruel by many, some pigs are
now grown with neon snouts or feet. Scientists argue that these
experiments will go a long way in learning how to grow human organs for
transplants.
Congenital Methemoglobinemia
While
the term is insensitive to those who suffer from this condition,
they’re often referred to as Smurfs. People with too much
methemoglobinemia in their blood will cause it to be a brown color, and
their skin to look blue.
Uner Tan Syndrome
It
is a rather controversial condition, but one thing that is agreed upon
with UTS is that those who have it walk on all fours and appear to be
physically devolving, rather than evolving.
Progeria
Progeria
is a rather new genetic condition, although not a hereditary one. It is
usually noticeable shortly after birth and it causes that person to age
much more rapidly than normal. Only about 1 in 8 million people are
said to have it, and sadly, they tend to not live past their teens or
early twenties.
Amelogenisis Imperfecta
Amelogenisis
Imperfecta is a tooth mutation that has 14 different variations.
Depending on the variation, a person with this condition may have thin
and soft tooth enamel, or even teeth with pitted holes in the centre.
Luckily, it only occurs in about 1 in 14,000 people in the United
States.
Proteus Syndrome
Proteus
Syndrome is now thought to be the condition of which the famous
“Elephant Man” suffered. Bones, skin, and other tissues overgrow in
those who have this, so many of their features are out of proportion to
the rest of them. It only occurs in less than one in one million people.
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disorder (SCID)
You
have likely heard of the film “The Bubble Boy,” which was inspired by
David Vetter, who was a boy with no immune system to fight infection so
he essentially had to live in a bubble to protect himself from
infection. This is the result of a mutation that causes defects in the T
and B cells. In 1990, it became the first human illness to be treated
by gene therapy.
Trimethylaminuria
So
rare a disorder that its rate of incidence is unknown,
trimethylaminuria is very easy to diagnose. Those with this condition
cannot break down trimethylamine, which naturally occurs in our bodies.
The excess of this results in that person constantly smelling of rotting
fish, eggs, garbage or urine.
Supernumerary Teeth
Also
known as “Vampire Teeth,” supernumerary teeth occur when a person grows
more than the regular amount of teeth we’re destined to have. If a
person with this condition chooses to, they may have a dentist extract
the extra teeth.
Mermaid Syndrome
Babies
born with what is called “Mermaid Syndrome” have both of their legs
fused together into one. Most babies born with this pass away due to
bladder and kidney problems, but there are also reports of people that
did not experience those complications and live relatively normal lives.
Marfan Syndrome
Marfan
Syndrome is a relatively common condition compared to many, and about 1
in 10-20,000 people are said to have it. It manifests differently in
everyone, but it results in overgrown bones and loose joints, among
other structural abnormalities.
Cyclopia
Cyclopia
is a rare condition that is thought to be the result of genetic issues
caused by toxins ingested by a pregnant mother. Although babies with
this condition are often stillborn, they share the feature of only
having one socket for both of their eyes.
