It turns out it wasn’t all a bunch of rubbish when our parents told us as children that each one of us was very special, in fact unique, from everyone else. Scientists have now proven it.
According to a study in Current Biology, scientists say they have learned that every single human being is comprised of between 100 to 200 new genetic mutations, which means–yes, that’s right–we are all mutants. (Our parents put it much more nicely, don’t you think?)
Now our mutations aren’t going to give us powers like Wolverine (sorry guys) or Mystique, but they do perpetuate the genetic variation of our species, leading both to minor improvements in some cases and the introduction of negative traits including diseases in others, say scientists.
So at least we all know it now, we are all genetic oddities, so as the City Brights blogger said, “Embrace your inner mutant.” And cross your fingers that someday our mutations will make us look and have powers like X-Men characters.
Summer Johnson, PhD