# Have there ever been 'cool' mutations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 21, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374 "2003-12-21T22:02:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/21 "2003-12-22T06:34:52Z")
As I remember, there was an athelete suspected of [“blood doping”](http://www.physioroom.com/research/blood_doping_2.shtml) awhile back, but it was later determined that he just had a genetic condition that caused his body to produce much higher levels of red blood cells than most humans. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/22 "2003-12-22T07:14:18Z")
— I did read Charles Berlitz’s “Tales of the Awesome” (I think thats what it was called) and there was an apparently factual account of an autopsy performed where they did not find a brain. This may say more about Charles Berlitz, author of such gems as _The Bermuda Triangle_, _The Philadelphia Experiment - Project Invisibility_, and _The Roswell Incident_, than it does about mutations. ---
**Author:** ![raygirvan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@raygirvan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raygirvan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/23 "2003-12-22T12:15:09Z")
_an apparently factual account of an autopsy performed where they did not find a brain._ I don’t know of the Berltiz account, but this is more or less true. Some cases of hydrocephalus produce a fully-functioning thin skin of brain tissue lining the inside the skull. See: [Is a brain really necessary?](http://www.rense.com/general42/brain.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/24 "2003-12-22T14:59:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joey P \* > \*\*Out of curiosity, how did the doctors know that she didn’t have an appendix? \*\* Ultrasounds (they were checking her ovaries, and became puzzled at the absence of the appendix). Either it’s not there at all, or it’s very well hidden. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/25 "2003-12-22T16:06:23Z")
A simple mutation to one gene on chromosome 2 prevents the shutting off of the manufacture of lactase enzyme at weaning. This allows children and adults to digest the milk sugar lactose all their lives. Unless you’re a militant vegan, this is not only pretty “cool” but arguably the most noticeable and important mutation to occur during modern human history. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/26 "2003-12-23T08:26:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by netscape 6 \* > \*\*just to be a kill joy, anyone can eat metal if the pieces are bite sized. The man who ate a bike had to saw the bike down first. The acid in the stomach can digest metal. now if someone could eat metal and be nourished by it is a different story. \*\* Well, you can. The 100% RDA of iron that you see on breakfast cereal containers is provided in the form of actual small iron flakes. They’re small enough that you’ll never notice them, but not microscopic. ---
**Author:** ![First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/First_Amongst_Daves)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/27 "2003-12-23T09:29:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gyrate \* > \*\*Ultrasounds (they were checking her ovaries, and became puzzled at the absence of the appendix). Either it’s not there at all, or it’s very well hidden. \*\* By way of anecdote, my appendix was hidden entirely by my bladder and did not show up on an ultra sound, but it was definitely there when it burst 4 months ago. The doctors were convinced it was my appendix, even though they couldn’t find it, because the rest of my organs were intact and my white bloodcell count was very very high. > [@](#): > > \*\* > > an apparently factual account of an autopsy performed where they did not find a brain. > > I don’t know of the Berltiz account, but this is more or less true. Some cases of hydrocephalus produce a fully-functioning thin skin of brain tissue lining the inside the skull. See: > Is a brain really necessary?\*\* That is the most revolting thing I’ve read this week. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/28 "2003-12-23T10:57:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The God of Muesli Bars \* > **By way of anecdote, my appendix was hidden entirely by my bladder and did not show up on an ultra sound, but it was definitely there when it burst 4 months ago. The doctors were convinced it was my appendix, even though they couldn’t find it, because the rest of my organs were intact and my white bloodcell count was very very high.** IANAD and I haven’t seen the scans (and wouldn’t necessarily know what I was looking at even if I had). All I can say is that two different sets of doctors have insisted that my wife’s appendix is not there, and that tapes of her ultrasounds are being used by the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of London for instructional purposes. If it’s there but hidden behind something else, I will be very disappointed indeed in the medical profession, as you’d think they might have conisdered that option. However, the tonsils are definitely not there. Lucky her. These “mutations” are likely due to her brief in-utero exposure to DES. Let us be thankful it wasn’t Thalidomide. ---
**Author:** ![Starbury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Starbury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starbury)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/29 "2003-12-23T13:32:05Z")
Having blue skin might be cool: [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980724.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a980724.html) ---
**Author:** ![First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4491bb/32.png) [@First\_Amongst\_Daves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/First_Amongst_Daves)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/30 "2003-12-24T03:16:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gyrate \* > **…tapes of her ultrasounds are being used by the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of London for instructional purposes…** Well, that sounds pretty thorough! Back to the OP: my wife’s sister’s boyfriend has a weird fingernail, which is hereditary amongst men in his family. It grows sideways from his index finger, pointing down like a knife’s edge, and is very hard (he uses it to open beer bottles). Not quite retractable claws like Wolverine in the X-men, but he thinks its cool. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/31 "2003-12-24T04:01:27Z")
That _is_ cool. Built-in bottle cap opener! 🙂 Those no-brain guys, however, are beyond wierd. Can you imagine going to the doctor one day, and having him tell you that your brain is a millimeter-thick coating on the inside of your skull, and the rest of your head is just a big ball of fluid :eek: ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/32 "2003-12-24T04:17:14Z")
Both my wife’s pinkies are bent about 45 degrees inward at the last knuckle. You wouldn’t think this would be useful, but then you probably never pick your nose. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/33 "2003-12-24T04:37:06Z")
Um, I think that the Jeff Rense site is pretty out there. It’s all about UFOs and crap like that, so I’d take it with a grain of salt. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/34 "2003-12-24T04:51:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Petter \* > \*\*What, three functional arms wouldn’t be cool? \*\* I already have three arms. The third is baby-sized, though. I use it to hold apples. ---
**Author:** ![Achilles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dc4da7/32.png) [@Achilles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achilles)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/35 "2003-12-24T09:05:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by obfusciatrist \* > \*\*Both my wife’s pinkies are bent about 45 degrees inward at the last knuckle. > > You wouldn’t think this would be useful, but then you probably never pick your nose. \*\* My wife has the same thing. Thankfully I’ve never seen them “in use”. ---
**Author:** ![culov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@culov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/culov)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/36 "2003-12-24T09:22:54Z")
You guys might like this book. [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0670031100/qid=1072257658/sr=2-1/ref=sr\_2\_1/102-6711052-2542554](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0670031100/qid=1072257658/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/102-6711052-2542554) ---
**Author:** ![hlanelee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@hlanelee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hlanelee)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374/37 "2003-12-24T12:57:06Z")
Opposable thumbs are pretty cool. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-there-ever-been-cool-mutations/220374.md?page=1)