New Bond girl is a polydactyl

BRENDA M. RYALS-BURNETT — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:21:22 GMT

This is so interesting because my brothers and father are polydactylys. So are some of my counsins, neices and nephews. All of their extra digits were on the pinkies. Prior to the 1980's the extra digits were tied off but then the medical community figured out a way to make a lot of money from the procedure and started performing "surgery" to remove them. However my dad, born in rural Georgia in 1921, said that the midwife simply cut his off with garden shears. My mom wanted my oldest brother, born in 1949, to keep his but my dad and the doctors convinced her that he would be considered a freak. My youngest brother, born in 1960, is also a polydactyly. I threw a tantrum when my mom left me to go have her baby at the hospital. When she and my dad brought him home I was jealous and when the tied off nubs dried up and fell off I stole them. That was my seven year-old revenge. I did not confess to the crime until about ten years ago anD my brother has looked at me sideways ever since. Our other six siblings thought it was hilarious. The polydactylys in my family all say they get messages through their nubs (LOL). They also say that the nubs hurt when they are stressed. Do not worry America, the rest of us keep a close eye on them just in case they are really part of some alien Borg Collective. This is a true story!

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

db ffld, ct — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:31:13 GMT

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

John Doe — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:45:59 GMT

I was just wondering is there condition of polydactyly with the other digit in men?

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Jenny J, Mesa, AZ — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:05:37 GMT

I'm surprised to see this in the news! I had 6 fingers and 6 toes on both hands and feet at birth, and so did my daughter! In my family we think its special and look forward to more of us 'polydactyls' :)

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Miriam Pia — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:05:52 GMT

In biology coursework, somewhere along the line, I learned that the 6 finger human is actually a genetically dominant trait, like brown eyes. It was bred out of much of the population.

Obviously, it could be a nuisance when the other finger isn't even functional.

The bottom line is that: It's a genetically dominant trait- that's how much 6 fingered people are not natural freaks.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

John Doe — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:15:49 GMT

I have both polydactyly and syndactyly. I've had 11 surgeries since 1948. Made many positive adjustments. Played bass guitar in 3 bands for about 15 years. The thing a person has to adjust to mostly are the comments made by others about your hands and feet. People can be very cruel.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Hiram K. Myers, Edmond, OK 73034 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:50:28 GMT

My step-grandfather, a country doctor cut my sixth fingers off at the knuckle. The one on the left hand shrunk (but was still quite noticible); the sixth knuckle on the right hand grew disporportionately and became a grotesque club. My entire childhood was negatively influenced by the reaction of others. My parents refused to have it surgically corrected, but to my relief a Naval Orthopedic surgeon volunteered to do so. The autobio of my early life "In Pursuit of the Speckled Gumball" recounts the experience.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

S J, Phoenix, AZ — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:02:17 GMT

I think Ms Ryals-Burnett had part of her brain scooped out when she was born.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Bubba Trouble, Kansas City, Missouri — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:05:47 GMT

Just think of the hand jobs!

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Brian — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:06:16 GMT

She's still hot.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Brent Duncan, Nashville, TN — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:21:44 GMT

I was born with an extra digit on my left hand between the thumb and index finger. It did have and bone and it was removed shortly after my birth. I still have the scar of where it once was, and I expect that I always will. It just goes to prove that birth oddities aren't rare anymore, but this is the first time I've heard of anyone famous with extra digits. Or at least that was willing to admit it.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

PS, Boston, MA — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:33:37 GMT

The superstar of Bollywood cinema, Hrithik Roshan, has Polydactyly. In his intial films, director were careful to hide that condition, but in his later movies, you could clearly see his extra digits. A nation of 1 billion does not find it odd, and frankly does not seem to even notice it anymore.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

silent P — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:49:34 GMT

I've got syndactyly of toes 2-3 on both feet - Mom and Dad always called them twin toes - and I still think anyone without twin toes looks goofy. I'm told Ashton Kutcher has the same condition.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Bill A., Portland, Texas — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:50:09 GMT

I had six fingers on each hand at birth. The extras were on the pinky side of the hand, with muscle and nails, but no bone. As Mom tells it, they tied them off with surgical thread till they died, then smipped them off. Now I have scar tissue that look almost like small warts at the side of each of my pinkies.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Geoff, Charlotte, NC — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:51:51 GMT

Interesting! All I can say is that she may be a polydactyly, never the less, how ever she's viewed there is no doubt she's beautiful! :) Great movie too!

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

John Doe, Seattle, WA — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:51:53 GMT

I thought it was due to an unbranched family tree.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Rafael tT. — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:13:11 GMT

That just means she has more to caress with. I'll be honored to make her the honors.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Mike suggs, Staunton, virginia — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:04:34 GMT

I think some people should just stop caring what others think/believe about you. knowing what other peoples' opinion is, isnt going to help you. they dont understand because its their ignorance blocking their inability to see theirself in other people's shoes.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Becky Lillicotch — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:38:56 GMT

Interesting and informative article. My maternal great-grandmother had six fully-formed toes on both of her feet with an extra little toe. She had narrow feet, so the extra digits weren't a big problem fitting into shoes. Our family always considered her lucky, and she lived to be 98 years old and in excellent health until her death.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

P. Hoit, RN, Bellevue, WA — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:41:29 GMT

To John Doe: Yes, men can (rarely) be born with a duplication of that "other digit". It's called diphallus. You can Google it...

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

ku lala — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:51:49 GMT

six fingers who cares! Does she have two va-ja-ja now you got my attention!!

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Tom, San Francisco, Ca. — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:59:58 GMT

circus freak

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Tim, San Diego CA — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:09:56 GMT

This is very common among cats, I've had several polydactyls. My current one is named 'Thumbs' for obvious reasons.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Hugh, Lake Luzerne NY — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:12:18 GMT

In the Books of Samuel in the OT, many of the Philistines were reported to possess this trait.
Judging from Goliath, they also showed giantism.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

John Eod, Berlin, NJ — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:37:08 GMT

I had six fingers on one hand at birth. For most of my childhood I found this to be a blessing because my sixth finger was fully functional. I played piano beautifully. It helped me in math at an early age, as well. However my parents were ashamed and, alas, it was surgically removed at age 11. I still feel phantom pains. I wake up in the night sometimes, seriously, screaming at the top of my lungs. I used to be special. I work for the post office now :(

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Ann Coulter — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:52:59 GMT

I have four penises

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Dan, Ottawa, On — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:53:00 GMT

"Polydactyly, which runs in families, occurs in approximately 1 in 1,000 children and can involve either multiple toes or multiple fingers"

Really? 1 in 1,000 have multiple fingers or toes? That's interesing because absolutely everybody that I know has "multiple" fingers and toes. We have 5 fingers per hand and 5 toes per foot. Any number greater than 1 is multiple, isn't it?

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Jamie B. Claremont, NH — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:04:05 GMT

I was born with an extra thumb on my right hand but my parents had it removed when I was 10 months old.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

BRENDA M. RYALS-BURNETT — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:28:53 GMT

My Carribean friends said that most of their polydactyly family members kept their extra digits. I think that acceptance was cultural and regional. My family always thought that polydactyly were rare but this blog disproves that. We await each child's birth with great anticipation to see if the baby is a polydactyly because, yes, we have always considered it a special blessing. In one case we even used it as baby daddy proof (No, I will not name names.). Someone should perform a study or survey just to determine the genetic and DNA link. My brother and I have done the Family Tree DNA tests and found that our paternal yDNA is African, Mediterranean, Irish and from the Balkan area. My brothers' and father's blood type is O. Hopefully awareness will encourage parents of polydactyly children to more carefully consider their options and repercussions of their decisions.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

HH, Tucson, AZ — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:06:34 GMT

I have a cat with 2 extra and 3 extra on his front paws. He has found a way to use them productively. He picks up his food and eats using the extra toes as thumbs. I just have not been able to convince him that he should use a fork or spoon.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Kevin — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:32:48 GMT

I have syndactyly of my second and third toes. When I was born, the doctor said that he could fix my toes, but my Mom and Dad said no. I get in the habit of thinking that everyone's toes look like mine.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

N.J. from L.A., CA — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:51:07 GMT

Madonna, Prince, Mick Jager, Eminem, George Bush, Clint Eastwood, Mike Tyson, George Lucas, Steven Segal, Albert Einstein, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul Jabar, and the guy that invented "Orange-Clean and OXY-Clean", all have had Seven Digits (in their income).

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

shirley,huntington,utah — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:37:46 GMT

That's great! She can probably play the guitar alot faster :))

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Elizabeth, Mountain View, MO — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:15:17 GMT

I was born with tissue but no bone for a thumb on my left hand which was removed a few days after my birth. Of course I have a scar from the removal. Interestingly, the scar is not low on the side of the hand where the thumb would normally be, but it is higher up near the joint of my index finger. I also have syndactyly of my ring finger and pinky on the same hand just up to the first knuckle. The funny thing is that I can't imagine how people could possibly use their left thumb! Go figure....

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Karen, Bend, OR — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:11:58 GMT

Cats with polydactyly have it luckier than humans because they'll never have to worry about finding shoes that will fit their extra toes. Speaking of "tying off" extra toes that are boneless, farmers often use the same technique for removing skin tags and wattles from their animals. It's even recommended for removing the extra teat or two a dairy cow or goat may be born with. When I got my dog as a puppy, she had very loosely attached, fleshy dew claws on her front legs. The vet wanted to do full surgery under anesthesia to remove them but I balked at the cost (considering they weren't causing any trouble then). Later, as a novice farmer I learned that "tying off" an appendage was as common as neutering the new buck kids with a device called an elastrator that "ties off" using tough rubber bands. We sometimes use it to remove the goat horns as well, by cutting off the blood supply to the base of the horn. As for the wattles that are basically skin tags and usually appear on the face or neck of a goat, they are often removed at birth with the quick snip of a pair of clippers. Not as traumatic to them as snipping off an extra finger with scissors, but then, goats can't see their wattles and don't use them for anything (although wattles may be associated with genes for greater milk production!).

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Brooke, ATX — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:55:43 GMT

She is a polydactyl. She has a condition known as polydactyly. Come on, MSNBC, you're getting as bad as CNN.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

balthazar ghetty-mart — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:16:40 GMT

inbreeding.... it's all inbreeding.

get out of the mountains folks. differentiation is good.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

uoyr huung, yugoslavia — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:59:01 GMT

I born with 2 and half penis. I come into these country for woman with more 10 hands, maybe she make happy time for me.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Joe Blow, Traverse City, MI — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:18:41 GMT

I wish I had polydactyly of my penis!

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

lucille thomas — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:51:13 GMT

so what she are know differentfrom no one else god made her that way i think it is neat so my dear be proud of the way you are you are sooooooo pretty

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Brian Norwood, Bethlehem, PA — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:10:35 GMT

BRENDA M. RYALS-BURNETT:

Nice post. Made me laugh!

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Moe in Minneapolis — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:49:36 GMT

I can think of a few things she can do with those extra digits! ;~)

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Horrible License Plates — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:43:02 GMT

Can I get an extra arm? That would be nice

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

teacher in KY — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:59:01 GMT

It is not inbreeding and not a joke. I have a 3 month old baby girl who will need surgery soon to have use of her thumb because she has an extra digit . Get a heart and stop making jokes.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Coco , Thomson Ga — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:38:35 GMT

My mom has 13 brothers and sisters and 4 out of them are polydactyl including her. They had the extra digits beside the pinkies. My mom had 3 girls i got the same, my sister next to me did'nt get none, my baby sister got one. I have 3 children and my son is my second born he has both. My girls don't have any. None of my nephews have any. My baby sister's daughter was born with the extra toe and not the fingers. My son's daughter was born without any, but his son was born with the extra fingers. My other grandchildren (3 boys & 1 girl) by my girl's don't have any . If it's herediatry , maybe it skips some generations in a family like mine's . But you can live a normal life without being made fun of we did.We also had them removed as babies. But your hand is more sensitive to hot & cold,also you get a tingling and itching feeling sometime that won't stop for a while. Also they get sore to for no reason.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

K G Goss — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 04:26:27 GMT

A similar trait has been occurring the Kendall families dating back, possably to the 1100s in
England, certainly to the 1600s in America.(see
Kendalls with extras in the Kendall Family Genealogy Forum
I descend from that Family and I had the extras as well as an uncle and cousins. The National institute of Health is doing a project work with some of those descendants

Ken, La.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

John Lemon — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:31:19 GMT

She doesn't have extra digits anymore.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

E. Hall, Phoenix, AZ — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:40:05 GMT

I was born with an extra toe on the inside of my second right toe. I have two small scars where it was surgically removed twice. My father's family from Alaska had it in every generation, so far it is a dominant mutation; although I am the first female to be born with it. He tells me the Cherokee tribe he descended from used to call it a sign of a shaman. So far, no special abilities.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Daniel Bigelow SLC, UT — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:32:02 GMT

I was born with six finger and six toes. My father was born with six fingers and six toes and so was my great grandmother. I just want you all to know that I am one cool kid and one day will be more famous than the James Bond girl Gemma Arterton.

New Bond girl is a polydactyl

Laura, West Mifflin, PA — Fri, 01 May 2009 21:24:21 GMT

This message is to Jamie B. Claremont. I, too, was born with extra thumb but on left hand. I am curious what yours is like now. I'm 35 now, had mine removed shortly after birth. Remaining thumb is not the same as a normal thumb and it often hurts.