Top 5 Most Shocking Human Genetic Mutations

Top 5 Most Shocking Human Genetic Mutations. These genetic mutations are all very shocking and sad. These humans all got very unlucky with these rare, shocking diseases…

5. Ectrodactyly

Ectrodactyly involves the deficiency or absence of one or more central digits of the hand or foot and is also known as split hand/split foot malformation. The hands and feet of people with ectrodactyly are often described as “claw-like” and may include only the thumb and one finger (usually either the little finger, ring finger, or a syndactyly of the two) with similar abnormalities of the feet.

4. Epidermodysplasia verruciformis

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis is an extremely rare disorder that makes people prone to widespread human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. This infection causes scaly macules and papules to grow on the hands, feet, and even face. These skin “eruptions” appear as wart-like lesions — and even wood-like and horn-like growths. The most famous sufferer from this disease is a guy who is nicknamed tree-man because he looks so much like a tree.

3. Mermaid Syndrome

This is when a child is born with his or her legs fused together and it gives the impression of a mermaid’s tail. The babies born with this defect will die within a day or two because of complications in the development of their bladders and kidneys. There are only a handful of births that did not have the complications that came along with this condition. The girl in the photo was actually operated on and is doing great!

2. Progeria

Progeria is extremely, extremely rare, and is estimated to only affect 1 in 8 million people. The disease causes accelerated aging and most patients don’t make it past 14. The disease is caused by a mutation in the LMNA gene, a protein that provides support to the cell nucleus.

1. Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva

Imagine your skeletal system slowly turning you into what essentially amounts to stone. That’s the horror of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, a disease of the connective tissue that causes the body to ‘repair’ damaged tissues by re-growing them as bone. There is no cure and what it boils down to is that your body slowly turns into a statue with limited to no flexibility.