Mutants don't just exist in Marvel fiction. There are many people who have rare genes that give them superhuman abilities compared to the rest of us.
Mutations are nature's way of adding new variants to the genetic pool. If these traits are beneficial (or at least harmless), they are passed down from generation to generation until they become a normal part of the gene pool of the larger species. Without mutations, evolution would not be possible, species would never be able to acquire new abilities or attributes.
Here it is a human who is endowed with a rare and medically verified genetic makeup, citing PCMag.
1. Super endurance!
Finnish Olympic ski champion Eero Mantyranta is a Finnish sportsman. If tested, he may be detected using hormone doping although he may not need it.
Mantyranta has the power of super genetic endurance. Along with other members of his extended family, Mantyranta has the condition due to mutations in the erythropoietin receptor gene. This results in the ability to carry 50% more oxygen in his bloodstream.
2. Super strength!
Liam Hoekstra made headlines in 2009 as 'the strongest toddler in the world'. He has a rare genetic condition in which his body blocks the protein myostatin, which inhibits muscle growth. Individuals or animals with this deficiency tend to have much larger muscles with less body fat.
Liam was naturally stronger than all of his peers without doing any training. The only downside of her condition is that she has to eat more than most people to keep up with her body condition.
3. Hyper photographic memory!
Marilu Henner is just one of 25 confirmed cases of hyperthymesia. This condition allows him to remember precisely the smallest details of his life almost every day. He told the ABC that exploring his memory was like watching 'small videos moving in unison'.
"When someone gives me a date or a year or something, I see all these little film montages, on the time continuum, I scroll and look at them," he said.
4. Super flexibility!
Javier Botet has a genetic condition known as Marfan syndrome, which affects connective tissue throughout the body. People with Marfan tend to be very tall, with long limbs and fingers, and have abnormal flexibility.
Marfan is a spectrum disease, meaning that severe cases can cause life-threatening defects in the heart and other organs. However, those who have mild symptoms can live normal and healthy lives.
5. Bye-bye sleep!
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco conducted genetic tests and sleep tests. They find a mother and daughter who have unusual traits.
They both carry an abnormal copy of a gene known as DEC2, which affects circadian rhythms. The result is that they just need a shorter amount of sleep. It is a genetic disposition that can affect as much as 5% of the population. They can function properly with only 4-6 hours of sleep.
