< Return to Video

10 Genetic Mutations that Could Give us SUPERHUMAN Powers

  • 0:00 - 0:01
    Hi, it's Mike Chen.
  • 0:01 - 0:03
    Super speed, heightened senses,
  • 0:03 - 0:06
    flight, super strength, invulnerability,
  • 0:06 - 0:09
    these are just a few of the superhuman abilities
  • 0:09 - 0:12
    that we see on the big screen that most of us wish we could have.
  • 0:12 - 0:16
    I mean, for decades, we have all been fascinated by these powers and the people
  • 0:16 - 0:18
    who just happened to be born with them
  • 0:18 - 0:19
    or happened to get bit by spider.
  • 0:19 - 0:20
    Lucky them right?
  • 0:20 - 0:22
    I mean, who wouldn't want to have the ability to fly
  • 0:22 - 0:25
    and don't have to ever sit in a traffic jam again
  • 0:25 - 0:27
    or have the ability to move things through their mind
  • 0:27 - 0:30
    and to be able to just clean your gutters while sitting on the couch.
  • 0:30 - 0:32
    Okay, maybe that's not the best use of that ability.
  • 0:32 - 0:34
    But the notion of having superhuman powers
  • 0:34 - 0:38
    has always been relegated to the world of science fiction and fantasy.
  • 0:38 - 0:41
    But through centuries of scientific advancements and studies,
  • 0:41 - 0:44
    the notion may be much closer to reality than we think.
  • 0:44 - 0:47
    In fact, there may be genes in our bodies
  • 0:47 - 0:50
    that may just be waiting for the right time to evolve
  • 0:50 - 0:52
    and surprise us with a special set of abilities.
  • 0:52 - 0:53
    So in today's video,
  • 0:53 - 0:57
    we're gonna count down to ten genes and a genetic mutations
  • 0:57 - 1:00
    that could potentially give us superhuman abilities,
  • 1:00 - 1:02
    and fulfill our superhero dreams.
  • 1:02 - 1:04
    Number 10, more powerful than a locomotive.
  • 1:04 - 1:06
    Let's start with the obvious - super strength.
  • 1:06 - 1:09
    From characters like the Incredible Hulk to Superman himself,
  • 1:09 - 1:13
    what guy would now want to have the strength of 10,000 men.
  • 1:13 - 1:17
    If you are one of the few people with a condition called "Myostatin-related hypertrophy"
  • 1:17 - 1:19
    you wouldn't be able to become a superhero overnight,
  • 1:19 - 1:22
    but you definitely can put on muscle mass quicker than any of us,
  • 1:22 - 1:24
    who has to go to multiple trips to the gym.
  • 1:24 - 1:26
    The condition is a mutation of the gene
  • 1:26 - 1:30
    that produces a protein called "myostatin or MSTN".
  • 1:30 - 1:32
    The gene is responsible for producing a type of protein
  • 1:32 - 1:35
    that signals the body to stop producing muscle areas
  • 1:35 - 1:37
    where there is already enough.
  • 1:37 - 1:41
    The mutation basically inhabit or interrupts the signals sent to the body.
  • 1:41 - 1:43
    It is nothing life-threatening or lethal,
  • 1:43 - 1:44
    it's just that people who have this condition
  • 1:44 - 1:47
    tend to have more muscle mass than the average human being
  • 1:47 - 1:48
    You know, without working out.
  • 1:48 - 1:50
    Number 9, faster than a speeding bullet.
  • 1:50 - 1:52
    We've all been in a situation
  • 1:52 - 1:55
    where many of us wish that we had to speed up the Flash
  • 1:55 - 1:59
    or we could fly so we would never miss an important event ever again.
  • 1:59 - 2:01
    That's why the gene ACTN 3 is so interesting.
  • 2:01 - 2:04
    This gene is present in every human beings genetic structure.
  • 2:04 - 2:07
    It is the gene that controls the fast twitch muscles
  • 2:07 - 2:11
    that allows us to run sprint and have that quick burst of strength.
  • 2:11 - 2:12
    Interestingly enough,
  • 2:12 - 2:16
    the mutation that allows over production of ACTN3 protein in the body
  • 2:16 - 2:19
    is much more present in athletes such as professional runners
  • 2:19 - 2:20
    sprinters, in some weight lifters.
  • 2:20 - 2:22
    Another point of interest is that
  • 2:22 - 2:25
    even though we all have this gene embedded in our chromosomes.
  • 2:25 - 2:30
    Geneticists have discovered that some athletes have an extra ACTN3 gene in their system
  • 2:30 - 2:33
    which allows them to perform better than non athletic types.
  • 2:33 - 2:35
    Number 8, unbreakable
  • 2:35 - 2:37
    So maybe super strength is not really your thing
  • 2:37 - 2:39
    and maybe running fast isn't really your style.
  • 2:39 - 2:42
    Perhaps you're just looking to be more of the indestructible type.
  • 2:42 - 2:45
    Well, the conditions surrounding this genetic mutation
  • 2:45 - 2:48
    are called osteosclerosis and hyperostosis,
  • 2:48 - 2:51
    where protein in the body are recoded
  • 2:51 - 2:52
    to have an entirely new function
  • 2:52 - 2:56
    and kickstart bone cells to grow denser and bulkier,
  • 2:56 - 2:58
    giving the term 'big bone' a run for its money
  • 2:58 - 3:01
    The gene behind it all is called LRP5,
  • 3:01 - 3:05
    a gene whose main function is to aid in important cell processes
  • 3:05 - 3:07
    as well as cell development.
  • 3:07 - 3:09
    While it is not at all dangerous,
  • 3:09 - 3:12
    having mutated LRP5 gene do give you the advantage
  • 3:12 - 3:16
    of making your bones less likely to fracture than an average persons.
  • 3:16 - 3:16
    Number 7,
  • 3:16 - 3:19
    you know the saying "No pain, well here lots of gain".
  • 3:19 - 3:23
    People with the mutated version of the gene SCN11A
  • 3:23 - 3:28
    have a certain propensity to not really feel any kind of sensation related to physical pain
  • 3:28 - 3:30
    Known as Congenital Insensitivity to Pain or CIP.
  • 3:30 - 3:34
    This rare condition prevents certain receptors in the body to identify pain
  • 3:34 - 3:37
    because of the decreased amounts of sodium in the body cells,
  • 3:37 - 3:40
    especially those that alerts and transmit pain messages to the brain.
  • 3:40 - 3:42
    There is the downfall to this though.
  • 3:42 - 3:43
    I mean it's great to not feel pain
  • 3:43 - 3:46
    But pain is what tells us what not to do in life.
  • 3:46 - 3:46
    For example,
  • 3:46 - 3:48
    don't hold your hand over fire.
  • 3:48 - 3:50
    And maybe watch out for that Lego brick.
  • 3:50 - 3:51
    But without sensitivity to pain,
  • 3:51 - 3:52
    we never really learn these things.
  • 3:52 - 3:56
    So it's also much easier for people with this condition to hurt themselves.
  • 3:56 - 3:58
    Number 6, fantastic elastic.
  • 3:58 - 4:01
    The ability to stretch the body and twist it into any form possible.
  • 4:01 - 4:04
    I feel like it's a really underrated skill, right?
  • 4:04 - 4:08
    Characters like Mr. Fantastic and Plastic Man are two comic characters
  • 4:08 - 4:13
    that have exhibited this seemingly limitless possibilities of being elastic and elongated.
  • 4:13 - 4:16
    Now if we remove cosmic rays and gamma radiation
  • 4:16 - 4:18
    and strip it all down to genetics.
  • 4:18 - 4:21
    It happens that there is a real-life condition called Marfan syndrome
  • 4:21 - 4:25
    where the body's tendons and ligaments are basically transformed into rubber.
  • 4:25 - 4:28
    This is due to the over production of the protein fibrillin-1,
  • 4:28 - 4:30
    a protein linked to connective tissues
  • 4:30 - 4:34
    that allows the bodies of these individuals to contort and twisting
  • 4:34 - 4:36
    in almost superhuman waist.
  • 4:36 - 4:39
    Unfortunately, unlike some of the genetic mutations on this list,
  • 4:39 - 4:42
    people suffering from Marfan syndrome do have a risk of contracting problems.
  • 4:42 - 4:45
    They could develop conditions in their skeletal and nervous systems
  • 4:45 - 4:47
    as well as developing heart conditions.
  • 4:47 - 4:49
    Also, Marfan syndrome may affect physical appearance
  • 4:49 - 4:53
    as some individuals with the condition tend to have facial disfigurements
  • 4:53 - 4:54
    or unnaturally long limbs.
  • 4:54 - 4:56
    Number 5, super sleepers.
  • 4:56 - 4:57
    Okay, here's the thing.
  • 4:57 - 4:59
    Being a superhuman may have its perks
  • 4:59 - 5:00
    but saving the world on a daily basis
  • 5:00 - 5:02
    that can be a lot of work and pretty tiring.
  • 5:02 - 5:05
    Even super humans need a good night's sleep, right?
  • 5:05 - 5:07
    Thankfully, a special kind of genetic mutation
  • 5:07 - 5:10
    allows certain individuals to fully charge their bodies
  • 5:10 - 5:13
    with less than the prescribed eight hours of sleep.
  • 5:13 - 5:15
    These short sleepers occur naturally
  • 5:15 - 5:19
    and they are predisposed to extend their short sleeping habits to their blood line.
  • 5:19 - 5:22
    While researchers are still in the middle of discovering
  • 5:22 - 5:24
    the extent and effect of this quality of mutation,
  • 5:24 - 5:28
    they have identified it to the hDEC2 gene.
  • 5:28 - 5:29
    Number 4, super sight
  • 5:29 - 5:34
    On average, a pair of human eyes can identify and differentiate about a million colors.
  • 5:34 - 5:37
    However, due to a mutation in the opsin gene,
  • 5:37 - 5:41
    a gene we have to thank for in producing visual pigments for seeing color,
  • 5:41 - 5:43
    people who are born with the condition tetrachromacy
  • 5:43 - 5:45
    are gifted with the superhuman ability
  • 5:45 - 5:48
    to see almost 100 million different colors.
  • 5:48 - 5:51
    Now, it doesn't sound as impressive as super-strength
  • 5:51 - 5:53
    or are being physically unbreakable,
  • 5:53 - 5:54
    but this would almost guarantee you lifelong employment in a paint store.
  • 5:54 - 5:56
    Number 3, anti-fat ability
  • 5:58 - 6:00
    Now most people think this is just an Asian thing.
  • 6:00 - 6:02
    But the power to not gain inches around your waistline
  • 6:02 - 6:03
    may be more important to some people
  • 6:03 - 6:05
    than the powers of flight, invisibility, super-strength and laser eyes altogether.
  • 6:07 - 6:09
    While it may seem like an enticing ability,
  • 6:09 - 6:11
    the truth is that this condition called MDP syndrome
  • 6:11 - 6:13
    that affects around 80 million people worldwide may be lethal.
  • 6:15 - 6:18
    MDP basically prevents fat from being stored under the skin
  • 6:20 - 6:21
    and does allows it to enter the bloodstream
  • 6:21 - 6:23
    which then leads to serious health problems
  • 6:23 - 6:25
    such as diabetes, congested arteries and heart disease.
  • 6:27 - 6:29
    Number 2, reverse electro
  • 6:29 - 6:31
    Aside from tissues, muscles and organs,
  • 6:31 - 6:33
    the human body is also heavily composed of liquids and fluids
  • 6:33 - 6:35
    from our blood to our sweat.
  • 6:35 - 6:38
    These fluids aid the body and processing nutrition
  • 6:38 - 6:39
    and regulating temperature among other things.
  • 6:39 - 6:43
    With the amount of fluids and liquids running inside of us,
  • 6:43 - 6:47
    it comes as no surprise that we are absolutely susceptible to electrocution.
  • 6:47 - 6:50
    However, an extremely rare genetic mutation in one man
  • 6:50 - 6:53
    allows him to withstand the effects of electricity.
  • 6:53 - 6:56
    Because of his lack of sweat and salivary glands.
  • 6:56 - 6:59
    Slavisa Pajkic is Serbia man astounded the world
  • 6:59 - 7:03
    with his ability to simply allow electricity to glide over his skin
  • 7:03 - 7:05
    and right onto to any object in his hand.
  • 7:05 - 7:08
    Since there are no sweat glands to act as conductors on his body,
  • 7:08 - 7:10
    he is practically shocked proof.
  • 7:10 - 7:14
    It has made Pajkic setting several World Records due to his bizarre ability.
  • 7:14 - 7:16
    Finally, number 1 - poison proof
  • 7:16 - 7:19
    Of course, we all know the human body is extremely fragile
  • 7:19 - 7:20
    and hopeless against poisoning.
  • 7:20 - 7:22
    Especially when it comes to the chemical kind.
  • 7:22 - 7:26
    Humans have almost no means of naturally combatting lethal toxins.
  • 7:26 - 7:31
    However, a poison proof gene has been discovered in the chromosomes of villagers
  • 7:31 - 7:33
    in San Antonio de los Cobres in Argentina.
  • 7:33 - 7:34
    For over a thousand years,
  • 7:34 - 7:37
    these villagers have been drinking mountain water
  • 7:37 - 7:40
    laced with extremely dangerous levels of arsenic.
  • 7:40 - 7:41
    Surprisingly, to this day,
  • 7:41 - 7:45
    the village still exists and people continue to live happy and healthy lives.
  • 7:45 - 7:46
    What researchers have discovered is that
  • 7:46 - 7:50
    the villagers seemingly natural resistance to the poison
  • 7:50 - 7:53
    has been attributed to the gene AS3MT,
  • 7:53 - 7:55
    a gene that allows them to process arsenic in their bodies
  • 7:55 - 7:57
    rather than store it to dangerous levels.
  • 7:57 - 8:01
    A testament to the wonders of thousands of years of natural selection.
  • 8:01 - 8:04
    Today an estimated six thousand people are known to have this special gene.
  • 8:04 - 8:06
    I think way into the future,
  • 8:06 - 8:10
    we're either gonna wake up and have like extended claws coming out of our hands
  • 8:10 - 8:12
    or we're gonna grow a third eye because of all the pollution around us.
  • 8:12 - 8:14
    I think I'd rather do the claw thing.
  • 8:14 - 8:17
    Alright guys, thank you all so much for watching this video.
  • 8:17 - 8:17
    See you later.
Title:
10 Genetic Mutations that Could Give us SUPERHUMAN Powers
Description:

Here are some genetic mutations that could give us superpowers Check out the Beyond Science Magazine:
http://www.beyondscience.net/magazine

➨Get tickets to the best show on earth!!! http://bit.ly/2skdZ9n

►Subscribe for more videos! http://bit.ly/1Mo6FxX
►Check out my food channel! http://bit.ly/1hsxh41

★↓FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!↓★
Facebook Show Page: https://www.facebook.com/beyondsciencetv
Facebook Mike Fan Page: http://on.fb.me/1En9Lue
Instagram: http://instagr.am/Mikexingchen
http://instagr.am/beyondsciencetv
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Mikexingchen
Snapchat: Mikeychenx
Periscope: Mikexingchen

✉ Send stuff to our PO Box!
Mike Chen
PO Box 610 Middletown, NY 10940
------------------------
Sources:
http://www.medicaldaily.com/10-genetic-mutations-can-give-people-superhuman-abilities-super-flexibility-416262
http://www.businessinsider.com/genetic-mutations-that-make-you-more-awesome-2016-1/#bdnf-and-slc6a4-and-the-super-coffee-drinker-variants-7
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4553374/Three-genetic-mutations-superhuman-abilities.html
http://listverse.com/2017/02/16/10-mutant-genes-that-could-make-you-superhuman

more » « less
Video Language:
English
Duration:
08:18

English subtitles

Revisions