Polydactyly is a genetic condition that causes extra fingers and toes. It is not harmful, but may be associated with more serious genetic conditions. Surgery is the only treatment, but some people choose to keep their extra digits. Polydactyly is also common in cats.
Polydactyly is a genetic condition that manifests itself in the form of extra fingers and toes. These digits are sometimes called supernumerary, referring to the fact that they exceed the number of conventional digits. Polydactyly is not life-threatening or harmful, although it may be associated with a more serious genetic condition that requires treatment. In some parts of the world, people are choosing to remove these excess figures to avoid commentary or social isolation.
These extra digits can take many forms. The most common is a seamless piece of tissue, typically located near the little finger or toe. In some cases, however, the extra finger has articulated bones and joints and can even be used. This can make x-rays look quite unusual and sometimes a little confusing. Some people have polydactyl thumbs, which means they have two thumbs on the same hand, usually next to each other.
The condition is caused by an error in the genes that determine the shape of the hand or foot. In some cases it is an isolated genetic incidence and polydactyly is the only symptom. In other cases, something goes wrong during fetal development, causing the genes to fail to turn on and another finger to grow. In other cases, the condition may be part of a larger genetic condition such as aneuploidy, an odd number of chromosomes that can lead to serious birth defects.
The only treatment for polydactyly is surgery. Since the condition is not harmful, most surgeries are cosmetic, although in some cases the extra digits can interfere with normal life. Some people choose to keep their polydactyly, and aside from the difficulty finding suitable gloves, the condition is usually not a problem. However, in some areas birth defects are treated with serious superstition; deformities are treated as curses and are associated with Satan and evil deeds. In these cases, surgery is a good choice because it will allow the patient a much happier life.
Many people are familiar with polydactyly in cats, as it’s a pretty common mutation, especially along the East Coast of the United States. A polydactyl cat may have one or more extra toes on each foot, making the feet appear large and splayed. The Hemingway cats in Florida, living on Ernest Hemingway’s former estate, are well-known polydactyl cats, demonstrating the genetic link to polydactyly in cats as they represent multiple generations of felines.
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