Genetic deformities (warning may be disturbing)

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The discussion centers on the insights gained from analyzing extreme cases of deformity in animals and humans, suggesting that such cases can reveal important aspects of genetic coding. Examples include extra appendages, which indicate redundancy in genetic coding and the role of symmetry in organism development. The conversation also touches on various deformities, such as cyclops kittens and multi-limbed animals, raising questions about genetic errors versus developmental issues. There is a controversial debate about the ethics of aborting fetuses diagnosed with severe deformities, with some arguing that it is inhumane to allow suffering, while others emphasize the potential for life and survival despite disabilities. The discussion highlights the complexity of genetic conditions and the factors influencing developmental defects, including environmental influences.
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I think that we can learn a lot about genetic coding by analyzing extreme cases of deformity. For example, it's very common to see extra appendages -- this tells us that there is a low-level of redundancy in the code, and that there are just a few bits that control where a leg module should be formed...something like calling a subroutine. Also, notice that additional legs never break symmetry. Indeed every organism uses symmetry to condense coding.


kitten cyclops
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/8602/021cyclopskitten.jpg

two headed kitten
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/7054/1195704230050.jpg

kitten with two mouths
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/5131/kitten2i.jpg

black albinos (sadly these people are often exiled or killed in some places)
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/146/blackalbino.jpg

chicken with four legs
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9341/weirdanimalchicken49.jpg

lamb with 7? 8? legs
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/1016/weirddeformedanimals01.jpg

hydra
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/9711/weirddeformedanimals03.jpg

another hydra
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/2505/weirddeformedanimals04.jpg

cow with extra legs
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/5986/weirddeformedanimals05.jpg

four legged duck (4 legs good, 2 legs bad?)
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/5523/weirddeformedanimals07.jpg

four legged duckling
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/4725/weirddeformedanimals08.jpg

butt-head cow
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/8365/weirddeformedanimals10.jpg

extra legs
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/6454/weirddeformedanimals11.jpg

woman with thin waist
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/2313/user7561168404947a.jpg

Lakshmi the 8-legged girl
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/9651/aplaskshmi071106ms.jpg

Dede "tree-man"
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/5743/3ae911aa2350a3cc2d1f804.jpg

Huang, Chinese elephant man
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/5493/4210chinaselephantman11.jpg

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/6678/mogwtp.jpg
 
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How many of those are genetic errors vs just unformed conjoined twins?
 
This is a mix of very different cases. And tree man has been cured.
 
humanino said:
This is a mix of very different cases. And tree man has been cured.

His condition is improved (through surgery), but he looks far from cured...and warts have a tendency to grow back.
 
It's interesting that black people can become albino (a white person), but a white person does not become a black person.

Perhaps white people are genetic mutations black skin. (Actually, its more of a dark redish skin we are derived from. Black people are a darker version, white people a lighter version - or so I was told on a discovery show a while ago).
 
Ever heard of a harlequin baby?

e273fae0.jpg





1484harlequin_fetus.jpg




It's actually quite a fascinating disease.
 
gravenewworld said:
Ever heard of a harlequin baby?

e273fae0.jpg





1484harlequin_fetus.jpg




It's actually quite a fascinating disease.

Ugh! They should put that baby down once its born (or just abort it before its born) <yuck>


Which leads me to ask, if they know a baby will be retarded before its born: why don't they just abort it? What is the point of giving birth to a handicapped baby: they only sad reason I can think of is "all Life is precious" nonsense.
 
Cyrus said:
Ugh! They should put that baby down once its born (or just abort it before its born) <yuck>


Which leads me to ask, if they know a baby will be retarded before its born: why don't they just abort it?


Because they can still live

http://www.10news.com/health/3919722/detail.html


He survived into adulthood and is actually a triathlete.


For Ryan, managing his condition is a full-time job. Because his skin is constantly shedding, he needs to consume 7,500 calories a day. He tube feeds himself pure protein every night while he sleeps.
 
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Cyrus said:
Ugh! They should put that baby down once its born (or just abort it before its born) <yuck>

Which leads me to ask, if they know a baby will be retarded before its born: why don't they just abort it? What is the point of giving birth to a handicapped baby: they only sad reason I can think of is "all Life is precious" nonsense.

Exactly, it all comes down to that "life is precision" bunk. Personally I find it inhumane to put a human being through the suffering of life in that condition. At the stage of birth, a baby hasn't developed enough of a sense of self or unique identity to be precious...even if it does have some primordial sense of awareness.
 
  • #10
Cyrus said:
Ugh! They should put that baby down once its born (or just abort it before its born) <yuck>


Which leads me to ask, if they know a baby will be retarded before its born: why don't they just abort it? What is the point of giving birth to a handicapped baby: they only sad reason I can think of is "all Life is precious" nonsense.

Agreed.
 
  • #11
Cyrus said:
Ugh! They should put that baby down once its born (or just abort it before its born) <yuck>


Which leads me to ask, if they know a baby will be retarded before its born: why don't they just abort it? What is the point of giving birth to a handicapped baby: they only sad reason I can think of is "all Life is precious" nonsense.

Not everyone gets very good prenatal care and even with minimal care I'm not sure these things would be caught right away.
 
  • #12
russ_watters said:
How many of those are genetic errors vs just unformed conjoined twins?

Precisely. Even those that are not examples of conjoined twins, some are also developmental defects that can occur for reasons unrelated to genetics. A mother exposed to a toxin or with a disruption of blood flow to the placenta at a particular stage of development can lead to many abnormalities too.
 

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