Winning an actual lottery is almost impossible. The odds are around one in 14 million. It's hard to say whether the odds for winning the genetic lottery are similar, but some people do end up with pretty cool genetic features thanks to their parents.
People on Reddit shared some pretty unique genetic traits in these two threads: one about the ways they won the genetic lottery, and the other about the ways in which they both won and lost.
The people in the latter thread brought up some very interesting genetic features. Turns out, some people really are God's favorites, and for others, he really said: "You have to respect the balance."
#21
My colleague told me a story about growing up in Burundi and his mother having sickle cell anaemia.
I tried to be sympathetic, but he said it was not viewed as completely terrible as it made her immune to the Malaria epidemic that was going on at the time.
I tried to be sympathetic, but he said it was not viewed as completely terrible as it made her immune to the Malaria epidemic that was going on at the time.
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38points
#24
I'm late for the party - but I have a rare genetic illness, and 2/3 of the people that have it are mentally or physically disabled.
I have all the minor symptoms, such as very bad sight, weak bones, small upper jaw and other small stuff... But you can't tell I have this illness unless you take a very close look to my skin (white patches here and there).
But all the major symptoms involving mental and physical disabilities? None. My brain is f*****g brilliant. It got me quite far in life until now. I think uber quickly. My muscles are great, my body is in good shape, I run, swim, do yoga on a regular basis and it doesn't hurt (until now).
It's f*****g scary. I remember reading these lists of major symptoms and it just felt like I won a really weird, unfair lottery compared to others with the same illness.
The main s****y side of this illness is that, if I want a kid, there's chances that he might get this disability, but seriously this time.
TL;DR : I won some f*****g weird genetic lottery and should have been disabled, instead of that I'm quite intelligent. Life, eh.
I have all the minor symptoms, such as very bad sight, weak bones, small upper jaw and other small stuff... But you can't tell I have this illness unless you take a very close look to my skin (white patches here and there).
But all the major symptoms involving mental and physical disabilities? None. My brain is f*****g brilliant. It got me quite far in life until now. I think uber quickly. My muscles are great, my body is in good shape, I run, swim, do yoga on a regular basis and it doesn't hurt (until now).
It's f*****g scary. I remember reading these lists of major symptoms and it just felt like I won a really weird, unfair lottery compared to others with the same illness.
The main s****y side of this illness is that, if I want a kid, there's chances that he might get this disability, but seriously this time.
TL;DR : I won some f*****g weird genetic lottery and should have been disabled, instead of that I'm quite intelligent. Life, eh.
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36points
#25
I never get sick. *Ever*.
My natural cholesterol is so high, you could spread my blood on toast.
My natural cholesterol is so high, you could spread my blood on toast.
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35points
#26
Virtually invisible leg, arm, armpit, and any other body hair.
As an Italian girl this is unheard of.
As an Italian girl this is unheard of.
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34points
#29
I don't need a fake nose if I want to dress up as a troll.
Edit: F**k this gay earth, I got gold and a bunch of upvotes for confessing my nose is big.
Edit: F**k this gay earth, I got gold and a bunch of upvotes for confessing my nose is big.
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31points
#30
No history of cancer in my immediate family.
I'm 6'4" and not lanky.
I have 20-20 vision.
I'm 6'4" and not lanky.
I have 20-20 vision.
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31points
#32
I'm the only person in my family with perfect eyesight, but I'm also the only person who doesn't have a sense of smell.
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31points
#33
Lose (working on how I feel about myself)? Everything about me is tiny. Puberty grazed me, then left the building. Often get mistaken for a child.
Win? I rarely get ill, and when I do, its never horrible. My immune system seems rather decent.
Win? I rarely get ill, and when I do, its never horrible. My immune system seems rather decent.
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30points
#34
Perky, average sized breasts. They look great and I will never have the back issues that go along with big b***s. F**k yes.
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29points
#36
I'm very healthy with no genetic disorders or diseases, but look wise i ain't doing so well.
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28points
#39
The s***tiest one ever.
There's this muscle in your ear that's designed to protect you from sudden, jarring noises. In general, it's involuntary, and most people will never know when it triggers. But I have voluntary control over it. So when I concentrate, I can create a gentle hum that only I can hear.
For the first fifteen years of my life, I kept expecting to get Jedi powers. Then I finally asked my doctor, and he asked around for me until he had an answer.
There's this muscle in your ear that's designed to protect you from sudden, jarring noises. In general, it's involuntary, and most people will never know when it triggers. But I have voluntary control over it. So when I concentrate, I can create a gentle hum that only I can hear.
For the first fifteen years of my life, I kept expecting to get Jedi powers. Then I finally asked my doctor, and he asked around for me until he had an answer.
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26points
