Take a closer look at this rare mutation that might make swimming impossible
In our earliest science lessons, we learned that anything denser than water sinks. The denser something is, the more easily it sinks. This is seen in people who are more muscular, because muscle is denser than fat. These people become less buoyant. For some people, though, it’s not their muscle mass that causes a problem: it’s the density of their bones.
This viral post from the r/Weird subreddit discusses this phenomenon.
There is a mutation that causes bones to become 8 times denser than normal that allow people to walk away from car accidents without a single fracture but with a trade off of being unable to swim.
byu/TheOddityCollector inWeird
According to the Reddit post, a mutation can cause people to have bones that are eight times denser than average. Thanks to this, they’re less prone to broken bones, but, on the downside, they “can’t swim.”
The post, however, doesn’t provide much more information about what exact kind of mutation it is or offer a name for it. Luckily, the comments section and some research provide some extra clarity.
The mutation being referred to is likely a mutation of the LRP5 gene, specifically called LRP5-HBM (High Bone Mass). LRP5 helps regulate bone formation in the body, and when it mutates, it can work overtime.
In reality, the bones aren’t eight times denser. It’s closer to 2-3, which is still a remarkable feat. These bones are hard to break and can safely absorb more force, allowing them to stay intact in incidents that would cause serious injury to a bone of normal density.
The claim of the mutation making people “unable to swim” is essentially an exaggeration, one that many commenters caught. No one is unable to swim entirely, but denser and heavier bones do make them less buoyant, so they tend to sink faster.
One commenter discussed her husband, whose anecdotes all match up with the mutation’s characteristics. She said that “his bone density is so high when we go to the creek… he sinks straight to the bottom. He can go through some brutal accidents without a broken bone, whereas I can step off the … sidewalk and break my ankle.”
While LRP5-HBM aligns almost perfectly with all the facts in the original post, many in the comments confuse it with a similar but less fascinating disorder: osteopetrosis, also known as “stone bone.” With this condition, bones are denser, but also more brittle and prone to breaking.
The “fun-factor” of these two conditions couldn’t be more dissimilar. While the LRP-5 mutation can feel like a superpower, osteopetrosis tends to feel more like a curse. At its mildest, the condition can go completely undetected. At its worst, it can lead to more frequent fractures, pinched nerves, and impaired bone marrow function. It’s unsurprising that one user said, “it causes all kinds of health problems and is not a net benefit.”
Ultimately, both conditions are extremely rare oddities. LRP5-HBM is more of an exciting biological anomaly, as opposed to anything warranting genuine concern. This condition, and the anecdotes seen on Reddit, show how a single gene can have a significant impact on the human body, and someone’s experiences. While the original claims on the condition weren’t exactly correct, the effects of this mutation are nothing short of amazing.
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