Brazil: Family of 14 all born with 12 fingers and toes

The De Silva's, a family of fourteen members in Brazil have stunned everybody around with an unusual trait in the family. All the members of the family were born with six fingers in hands and six on their feet, including the youngest member, a baby boy born with the same rare genetic abnormality.

Polydactyly, as it is called, is a type of genetic syndrome and it occurs in one out 1,000 people. For Da Silva family this abnormality synonymises a unique mark and they view the extra finger and toe as an asset.

According to Genetic Scientist, Dr Laura Lettice, "There are a variety of mutations that result in this condition but in the case of just having extra fingers and toes, then we’re looking at a misexpression of a gene which normally results in the patterning of your digits".

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"If either your mum or your dad has extra digits, then you stand a 50/50 chance of getting the same type", he told The Sun.