Random Rare Genetic Features That You Probably Don't Have (17 items)

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  (#8) These Amish People Will Probably Live Longer Than The Rest Of Us

  In 2017, scientists discovered a mutation in the SERPINE1 gene among members of the Berne Amish community in Indiana. This gene lowers the level of PAI-1 in the body of those with the mutation. PAI-1 is found in higher concentrations in people with diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.

  Evidence suggests that the SERPINE1 mutation has two effects: it stops clots from forming in blood vessels and starts a process known as senescence. Senescence essentially puts cells into a form of suspended animation, which prevents them from being destroyed or damaged. The end result is that those carrying the mutation can live for up to 10 years longer, and they suffer from chronic illnesses such as heart disease at a much lower rate.
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  (#1) Some People's Bones Just Don't Break

  In 1994, scientists discovered a genetic mutation known as LRP5. The gene regulates the production and release of a protein that plays a major role in bone density. The mutation was discovered when a man involved in a serious car crash didn't suffer any fractures or broken bones. Researchers later found that he had family members who also had incredibly strong skeletons, one of whom underwent several failed hip replacements because doctors were unable to screw the prosthesis into his bone.

  Tests showed that the group had bones nearly eight times denser than the average person's, making them so tough that they were almost impossible to break under normal circumstances.
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  (#2) This Mutation Creates Very Strong Children

  Although it's been well documented in mice and cattle, there have only been a few instances of inactive myostatin genes in humans. The condition causes people to develop incredibly strong muscles. Children who are born with the mutation have lean and well-defined muscles at a young age, possessing greater strength than children of similar ages.

  Long-term health issues associated with the disorder are unknown, as it hasn't been widely researched.
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  (#5) Some Folks Don't Need To Worry About High Cholesterol Or Heart Disease.

  In 2004, scientists discovered some people who are missing working copies of the gene PCSK9. While missing genes can lead to defects or deficiencies, this missing gene actually has a very beneficial trait: Those without functioning PCSK9 genes don't need to worry about high cholesterol. Pharmaceutical companies jumped on the discovery and quickly began working on drugs to block functioning PCSK9 genes in patients with dangerously high cholesterol. 

  Only a handful of African Americans are known to possess the genetic mutation. People with this mutation have a 90% reduced risk of heart disease.
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  (#13) Melanin Distribution Affects Eye Color

  Officially known as heterochromia, this condition causes people to have either two different eye colors or to have different colored sections in each eye. In certain circumstances, it can lead to a difference in color of other body parts, such as the skin or hair. The most dramatic version causes irises to take on two completely different hues. The main cause of heterochromia is a genetic mutation that leads to errors in the distribution of melanin in the body.

  While it may not seem as rare as other genetic anomalies, it's estimated to affect only 1% of the world's population.
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  (#16) A Select Few Don't Need To Sleep Very Often

  For most people, a few nights of lost sleep result in feelings of exhaustion, stomach issues, and a potentially compromised immune system. However, a small percentage of the population can get away with only sleeping a couple hours a night, or (in extreme cases) going years without sleep. 

  Back in 2011, The Wall Street Journal ran a story that claims between 1% and 3% of humans can exist on virtually no sleep with few negative side-effects. The article theorizes that Thomas Jefferson, Leonardo da Vinci, and Ben Franklin were all suspected carriers of this trait, before emphasizing that most readers do in fact require the standard eight hours per night. 

  While scientists still aren't sure what causes some people's bodies to not require sleep, they hypothesize that affected individuals carry a "Clock Gene" that allows them to stay awake for long periods of time. 

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