If the effect is neutral, this means that the mutation affected the DNA that has no function or the part that doesn’t affect amino acid sequences.
In serious cases, mutations can limit or completely destroy an animal’s ability to survive or reproduce. Marfan syndrome, for example, can affect cattle, specifically their heart and blood vessels, the skeleton and muscle tissue, and even cause ocular diseases.
#22 This Beautiful Dachshund With Vitiligo
#24 The Absolute Ears On This Bunny
Other genetically-caused illnesses in animals include epilepsy, polydactyly (extra fingers or toes), cancer, congenital heart anomalies, eosinophilic skin disease, polycystic kidney disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, progressive retinal atrophy, vitiligo, among others.
#25 Chocolate Brown Tuxedo Kitten
#26 Meet Quasimodo, The Dog With The Short Spine. Even If You’re Different You Can Still Enjoy Life
But there are also mutations that benefit the body. Insects can develop an immunity to pesticides that cover certain crops. Not really good for humans, but, hey, the animal found a way to survive, so it benefits it.
Another example is nylon-eating bacteria. Now, it might not necessarily benefit the bacteria itself, but it does solve the problem of degrading nylon-based waste.
#29 A Permanently Startled Rescue Cat Shocks Social Media With His Sweet, Expressive Face
If you’ve enjoyed this listicle of cute, inspiring and interesting genetic animal mutations, there’s more where that came from on Bored Panda.
But if you can’t be bothered with that, why not leave a comment and upvote before you go on your next online adventure?
#32 Duo Is A Special Kitten With Two Faces On One Head. Duo Has A Condition Commonly Known As “Janus”, Also Known As Craniofacial Duplication
#34 Meet Ivy, The Pitbull With Short Spine Syndrome. She Is A 3-Year-Old Queen Now
#35 It's A Very Weird Webbing In My Cat's Eye (The Vet Has Checked It, Nothing Harmful)
#36 Full-Time Cat. Part-Time Gargoyle
#37 This Is Our Polydactyl Boy, Jax! He's Odd
#38 Here’s A Pic Of My Chonky Rottweiler, Kaiser. He Was Born With Gigantism So He Was Absurdly Large As A Puppy And Is Still Large
#40 Our New Highlander Kitten... Polydactyl On All Four Paws And Curled Ears. We Love Our Unique Little Kitty
