Are you a "Mutie?"

[6souls]

Yup!

We're all mutants, say scientists

Each of us has at least 100 new mutations in our DNA, according to research published in the journal Current Biology.

Scientists have been trying to get an accurate estimate of the mutation rate for over 70 years.

However, only now has it been possible to get a reliable estimate, thanks to "next generation" technology for genetic sequencing.

The findings may lead to new treatments and insights into our evolution.

In 1935, one of the founders of modern genetics, JBS Haldane, studied a group of men with the blood disease haemophilia. He speculated that there would be about 150 new mutations in each of us.

Others have since looked at DNA in chimpanzees to try to produce general estimates for humans.

However, next generation sequencing technology has enabled the scientists to produce a far more direct and reliable estimate.

They looked at thousands of genes in the Y chromosomes of two Chinese men. They knew the men were distantly related, having shared a common ancestor who was born in 1805.

By looking at the number of differences between the two men, and the size of the human genome, they were able to come up with an estimate of between 100 and 200 new mutations per person.

Impressively, it seems that Haldane was right all along.

Unimaginable

One of the scientists, Dr Yali Xue from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridgeshire, said: "The amount of data we generated would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.

"And finding this tiny number of mutations was more difficult than finding an ant's egg in an emperor's rice store."

New mutations can occasionally lead to severe diseases like cancer. It is hoped that the findings may lead to new ways to reduce mutations and provide insights into human evolution.

Joseph Nadeau, from the Case Western Reserve University in the US, who was not involved in this study said: "New mutations are the source of inherited variation, some of which can lead to disease and dysfunction, and some of which determine the nature and pace of evolutionary change.

"These are exciting times," he added.

"We are finally obtaining good reliable estimates of genetic features that are urgently needed to understand who we are genetically."

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | We're all mutants, say scientists

[Qalbert]

But mutants are supposed to be abnormal. If we are all mutants, then isn't that normal? If it's normal doesn't that mean we aren't mutants? *headache*

[Omniyoji]

Everything you've learned from "X-MEN" is wrong. Sorry

Liking the custom title by the way Qal LoL

[Mizango]

Evolution is wonderful.

You like blond hair and blue eyes? You're a mutant enabler!!

[Mizango]

Oh wait nevermind, its all magic.

[Senoska]

Wait, you're saying evolution is real? This is remarkable news. Someone alert the Christians.

Spoiler: show

Droppin' the bomb.

[Senoska]

Evolution is wonderful.

You son of a bitch.

[BadKarma]

Im not a mutie BUT IM A WHOOTY

[Chicomagiko]

I can't wear watches because for some reason the battery drains very quickly(like they'd last about a week tops then die). Same goes for cell phones. I usually keep spare batteries for my G1 when I go to work. I also used to bend the colors on crt screens back in high school just by touching them.

[Howard Roark]

I get shocks when I rub my feet on carpet and touch metal objects and other people. I haven't found a use for my super power yet but I haven't told my family, I think it would be selfish to tell them anyway.

[Blarg]

JESUS WASN'T NO FUCKING MUTANT YOU ASSHOLE

[Fistandantilus]

Well seeing as how I've still died 0 times, and have not broken a single bone, I'm pretty sure my power is invincibility. Now that this article confirms my power, it's time to go abuse it!

[volcanicweather]

Man screw my 8-5 job, time to give Professor X a shout

[Sirrus_Asura]

So when do I get to be the Juggernaut?

[Dimmauk]

I can turn invisible when nobody is looking.

[Milkster]

I can totally see the future. Like whenever my friends plan something, I always foresse them getting hurt. Usually comes true. Or when I say that guy is gay... and he is.

[Kerberoz]

When I eat cilantro, it tastes like soap. Mutants unite!

[Jotaru]

Not the time or the place, but:

http://www.imagebeast.net/images/4uudx7eui1rg3rwumi.jpg

Holy shit rofl

[Diamicles]

I can turn invisible when nobody is looking.

Are you Paul Reubens?

[QuePsiXI]

Wait, you're saying evolution is real? This is remarkable news. Someone alert the Christians.

Spoiler: show

Droppin' the bomb.

These "scientists" "publish" "new" "findings"(yes all of those words are a stretch to say about this article) that say that they just now realize that humans evolve, and you use this as a pro-science-anti-religious opportunity? I hope, rather, pray, that I am whooshing super hard.

There are plenty of opportunities for self-reliant self-made superbad internet forum posters to declare how everything they've ever done in life is because they are that good, and that anything bad that's ever happened proved that there is no God. This is not such an opportunity.