101 year old Chinese woman grows horns on her forehead

  • Thread starter Kutt
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In summary, this genetically/biologically possible? Human beings are not supposed to have horns, not even going back all of the of evolutionary stages before the homo sapien.
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  • #4
I would not treat Dailymail as an accurate and reliable source.
 
  • #5
They are real, they are called cutaneous horns. Think of it as a finger nail growing somewhere a fingernail ought to not grow. I've actually got to see a patient with this before. Kinda gross!

Edit: See someone beat me too it above!
 
  • #6
Kutt said:
Interesting...

So this is a known phenomena?

Most of these "horns" are similar to rhinoceros horns. It is something that grows out of the skin, not from bone. I suppose that the horns of the rhinoceros may have started with a mutation like this.
Evolution starts with random mutations. The results of the mutations accumulate due to natural selection. In order to accumulate, the probability of each mutation has to be finite. The probability of such mutations have to be small, but they can't be zero.
This is a saltation, so it gets selected out under the usual environmental conditions. However, there could be an quasistable circumstance where such mutations are an advantage.
 

What is the background story of the 101 year old Chinese woman with horns on her forehead?

The 101 year old Chinese woman, Zhang Ruifang, first noticed small bumps on her forehead in 2009. Over the years, these bumps continued to grow and eventually turned into horn-like structures. She has since become known as the "Horned Grandma" in her village.

What caused the horns to grow on the woman's forehead?

The cause of the horns on Zhang Ruifang's forehead is still unknown. Some theories suggest that it could be due to a rare condition called cutaneous horns, which is characterized by the overgrowth of keratin. However, further medical examination is needed to determine the exact cause.

Is the woman's health affected by the horns on her forehead?

Despite the unusual appearance, Zhang Ruifang's health has not been affected by the horns on her forehead. She is still able to carry out her daily activities and does not experience any pain or discomfort from the horns.

Has there been any similar cases of people growing horns on their forehead?

Yes, there have been a few reported cases of people growing horns on their forehead, although they are extremely rare. In most cases, the horns are non-cancerous and do not cause any harm to the person's health.

Can the horns be removed?

Yes, the horns can be surgically removed. However, in Zhang Ruifang's case, she has chosen not to undergo any medical procedure to remove the horns as she believes they bring her good luck and longevity.

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