Family from Kentucky blue skin: features anomaly

Two centuries ago in the Kentucky area Troublesome Creek lived an unusual family that had blue skin tone. People called the family "the Blue Fugate", Fwhat – is the name of the father Martin's Discharge. He and his wife, Elizabeth Smith, were carriers of rare blood recessive gene Met-N. Consequently, the blood collection was distinguished by a high content of methemoglobin and low concentration of hemoglobin. In the first case, cells hemoglobin due to certain chemical processes are unable to carry oxygen. Ordinary people such cells not more than 2%, whereas in people with methemoglobinemia – up to 50%.

In this scenario, the skin becomes blue shades. Despite health problems that were imminent, family members lived to be 85-90 years, they lead quite a full life.

Gene could disappear Pugachov have grandchildren, but their children somehow managed to strike up relationships with "blue" people from the neighboring "clan", where lived the distant relatives of this family in the male line. In the end, was granted a new portion of the gene.

It should be noted that not all children and grandchildren inherited the gene. Scientists, in particular hematologist Madison Cabin, interested in the feature of family Fugat only in the 20th century. Last set is a descendant of the Martin Discharge is Benjamin Stacy was born in 1975. In his childhood he was clearly bluish skin, while today it is quite normal hue.

Translated by «Yandex.Translator»