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Whether we like our family tree or not, it’s something we belong to and there’s nothing we can do about it. Although every family has its strengths and weaknesses, some people feel like they were not that lucky in the gene lottery.

“Which shitty genetics did you inherit?” someone posed a bold question on Ask Reddit, and many people took it as an opportunity to confess some of the traits they’re neither happy nor proud about.

From baldness and anxiety to poor eyesight and acne, many of these genetic traits will hit very close to home, but remember that whatever it is, we’re all beautiful in our own way.

#1

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Likely Alzheimer's.

Both gamma's had it, my mom has it and I'm in my early fifties and starting to feel the beginning of decline.

Frankly, I'm scared s***less.

f_leaver , Sora Shimazaki Report

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Sam Dodd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think we all worry to some extent, my aunt and uncle were both diagnosed in the same year. Remember to remain both mentally and physically active and socially interactive. A lot of new research points to the gut and dietary issues. My Dad kept a daily journal, learnt a new language, walked an hour every day and swam all in his last 5 years. He enjoyed those last years even though he knew he had a terminal illness.His philosophy was he knew it was coming but he was determined to fill each day. A new hobby, learn something new, keep active, engage with people and embrace life. Wishing you good health and a positive future

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#2

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread A very rare recessive progressive genetic disorder. I'm a carrier. My wife also is a carrier. Incidence of being a carrier is over 1 in 1,000,000. Unfortunately for our kids, they have a 1/2 chance of being carriers, 1/4 chance that they won't, and 1/4 chance that they'll inherit the double recessive gene and manifest the disorder. 2 out of our 4 kids have manifested the disorder and their life expectancy is 10-12 years.

Life sucker punches everyone.

mbstone , Ivan Samkov Report

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InvincibleRodent
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And this, folks, is one of the instances where adoption is an infinitely kinder option to become a parent than having biological children.

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#3

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Teeth. I brush using an electric toothbrush for 2 minutes twice a day using prescription toothpaste, I floss twice a day, I've had braces and I floss under the permanent retainers once a day, I wear my night retainer every night and clean it every morning, have a dedicated tongue brusher and scraper that I use as needed, I go to the dentist twice a year and get fluoride treatments, I don't drink soda or eat excessive sugar, and I still have cavities.

I had to get a root canal that ended up failing (missed by the guy who did the root canal and 3 separate dentists) and when the cap eventually rotted off I had to get an implant which got infected, then got infected again, then was deemed chronically infected and had to be removed.

Now my wisdom teeth are acting up and need to be removed.

I am so f*****g sick of putting in so much time, energy, and money to be *below par* with most of the rest of the world

I'm only 33

NeedsItRough , Caroline LM Report

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JJ
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All the pain comes on top. I can relate so well to this. I also had too many teeth on one side, and one less on the other which made my braces-time (5 years) even more painful (and also is the root of my chronic headaches now). The last root-canal-treatment meant one appointment per one to two weeks for half a year (!), two antibiotics and one infection also affected my sinuses. Luckily I have a great dentist and live in a country where public health covers the costs (except for fillings). Still it sucks.

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#4

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread My parents met in their 20s, bonded over how they both have shitty circulation and everyone in their families has shitty circulation, and were like ‘I know, let’s breed!’.
Went as you’d expect.

cateml , Oliver Cole Report

#5

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Hair on every inch of my body except for the top of my head

elgatogordo19 , Furry Beast Report

#6

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Short, acne, small tits, crooked teeth and underdeveloped/too far back jaw (they got mostly fixed with braces), thin hair, mental illness, scoliosis, tiny toes (what the f**k is up with that, I get too many comments about my baby feet)

Can't think of anything else atm

It's like I won the reverse genetic bingo. If this was medieval times I would definitely be the repulsive town witch

Wdit: oh right, forgot IBS

amputatedsnek , Atikah Akhtar Report

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DEW
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had really thin hair all my life.I started taking an OTC hair and nail pills. They are from appliednutrition. They are with biotin, silica, collagen. They say three times the biotin. My hair is thicker and stronger. I have to take them daily. The stores now seem to just have the gummies which I don't care for. My son is 19 and takes a medication for his liver disease which caused him to lose his hair on top. He has new hairs coming in. He likes the gummies. Amazon is where I get them from now. I hope this will help you. I too have IBS-C

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#7

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Lynch Syndrome. I am on my third round of (different each time) cancer.

ferrrsursie , SHVETS production Report

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#9

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread excessive sweating

mrzpzp , cottonbro Report

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KING ILLEGAL FOREST
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Idk if my sweating is excessive, or just a result of general heat intolerance. if the temperature goes up past 75F/24C, I start losing the ability to function. Summer is a nightmare.

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#10

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Starving myself and still being fat

anon , Towfiqu barbhuiya Report

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Chich
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was just thinking today of a comment someone made about this. She tried to loose weight but according to her her genetics responded with something like "Oh! are we runnin' from the english lass? Don't worry! I'll keep you plump as a partridge to help you survive"

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#11

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Half of my face has my moms bone structure, the other half my dad. Come on, evolution, I thought this was all about symmetry.

OH and they both have addictive personalities which makes substance abuse almost instinctive. Luckily I was a pothead instead of an alcoholic or pill popper. We’re all doing better now LMAO!

vashonnn , Pavel Danilyuk Report

#12

No male in my family line has ever lived over 53 years old. I went through our family graveyard to verify this is true back to the 1860’s.

My family do not like me mentioning it. I am 38 now and have fully accepted my genetic fate.

ZebraSpot Report

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DEW
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let's hope you have a long life. Think positively. May be you have the gene's of the other side of your family!!

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#13

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread My wife says it not a big deal but I always tell her she would be freaking out if she started to lose her hair too. Hair means just as much to men as it does to women. Confidence killer.

YM1979 , Towfiqu barbhuiya Report

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Jan Rosier
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

alopecia universalis diagnosed at age 3... took me until 25 to get to grips with it, when i ritually burned my wig in our backyard (which I had been wearing since about 13)

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#14

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Two of my sons have muscular dystrophy. That's about as shitty as it gets.

coffeedognuts , cottonbro Report

#15

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Severe acne when I was a teen that left behind scars.

DeathSpiral321 , Anna Nekrashevich Report

#16

My grandma's large chest. Have a lot of back pain now and everything hurts. Getting a bit of them removed in a few years👍

Emotional_Energy7130 Report

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Susie Elle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom had a large cupsize and it was the bane of her existence for a good 40 years. After reduction, she felt so much better, I hope the same for you OP!

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#17

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread I'm slowly going blind from RP. Thanks mom. My spinal discs are deflating and pinching off my nerves, Thanks dad.

ruzzerboo Report

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#18

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread It's alcoholics all the way down

faceeatingleopard , The home of Fixers on Flic Report

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Kobus Loots
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to think that this wasn't real until I experienced it as well, my grandfather is an alcoholic (clean 30 years) and I became one as well (clean 1 year 8 months)

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#19

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Being unusually hairy, oily, and large framed for a woman. It's a thing with my family, none of the women in it are exactly the picture of traditional feminine beauty. I have to wear guys sizes in shoes because my feet are too wide for most women's shoes.

alufangirl1993 , Sora Shimazaki Report

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similarly
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't let it make you self-conscious. Two of the most elegant and fashionable women I know have large frames (broad shouldered, barrel chested), and I don't think I ever saw either of them wear a skirt. One woman wears mens suits often and looks fantastic. Just wear the kind of clothes that look good on you.

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#20

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Terrible teeth. Extra long roots, extra root points, an extra row. UGH.

mrsimpellizzeri , Andrea Piacquadio Report

#21

Female pattern baldness from my father’s side of the family and white hair from my mother’s side.

I don’t mind white hair in theory, but thinning white hair is nearly invisible.

jdith123 Report

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#22

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Allergies

zanesenjak_ , cottonbro Report

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COCO puff
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Allergies are not all the time genetic. Or I am wrong?!

Archer Harris
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey, don’t downvote COCO puff for asking a valid question. I think some allergies are genetic

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Lee Stone
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Allergies are issues with an overactive immune system. I suppose some specific allergies might be hereditary, but it's more likely that the underlying cause (an overactive immune system) would be the thing that was hereditary.

AnkleByter
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The tendency to develop an allergy (or be born with one) is the genetic component. just the tendency though. The individual allergens (pollen, foods, dust, bee stings, etc..) can vary greatly and are actually a lot more unlikely to be direct genetic matches. Usually while the parent(s) can pass on the tendency, the actually allergy itself won't be the same (it can, just not as likely).

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Asteríx Viking
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same here, well my father has, his father did as well and even his father. They go a lot of boys, but my father has a sister, she got it as well, my fathers brother did not test (but he did not get a servere allergy) but his children got the same. A doctor said to me its not genetic, but for my thinking I do believe it could be.

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Huddo's sister
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hear you! I can't even tell you everything I'm allergic to. When I was younger it was mostly just the hayfever, but then more and more turned up. Turns out my uncle is the same! Steroid nasal spray has definitely helped though.

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#23

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread My back went out in my 20s, and wasn't getting better. After a while I couldn't stand up straight, and had to get it scanned. The found the channel in my spine that the nerve goes through is 1/4 the size of most people's, so the very minor disc slip I'd had became a major problem. They wound up having to carve that channel (dunno what it's called, sorry) wider. Instant relief, but I now have a pretty weak back that's prone to going out. I recover with rest, now, thank goodness, whereas before I wouldn't.

Anyway, that's probably my worst thing, genetically speaking. Bad spine.

Coygon , Karolina Grabowska Report

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Katy McMouse
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me, too. Every day is a c**p shoot, every movement a gamble. It is exhausting, mentally and physically.

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#24

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread A bad spine (scoliosis, stenosis, & spondyolisthesis) and arthritis in other joints. Luckily, I’m not as bad off as previous generations of women in my family.

anon , Klara Kulikova Report

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Rod Wallace
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just a few generations ago, short life expectancy didn't see these long term breakdowns.

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#25

Mother has a full head of thick hair

Father had thinning hair and a receding hairline

Guess whose genes this guy got

neohylanmay Report

#26

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread dark circles under my eyes

xPav_ , romana klee Report

#27

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread A very rare case of keratosis pilaris (it covers my whole body not just the limbs, apparently it's super rare)

Unable-Ad-6116 , Karolina Grabowska Report

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Vorknkx
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am familiar with keratosis, although in my case it's only on the arms and legs (which is the typical scenario). For those who don't know - it's like having a lot of tiny dark spots on your skin - the photo gives a pretty good idea.

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#28

Acne that forgot to leave with the rest of puberty is also not fun. I have the scars AND I have the angry zits that like to crop up along my bra line. At least at this point, my face is taking the least of it and I don't have deep pockmarks or scarring there. But I don't wear plunging necklines because my chest is a mixture of new and old scars.

ConniveryDives Report

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DEW
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Try using cocoa butter. When I had wrist surgery the rehab lady rubbed my wrist with the cocoa butter and you can barely see the scar's. If I don't point them out nobody would know. The new scars should fade for you and the old may become less visible. Hope this helps.

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#29

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread im adopted, but me and my twin both have godawful eyesight

anon , Towfiqu barbhuiya Report

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Phoenix Connor
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have twin friends and one is autistic, legally blind, ADHD, anxiety. His sister has ADHD and anxiety/depression. They got the short sticks but the male twin got the shorter one. AND THEY'RE BOTH SHORT!

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#31

Well, having the diagnosis of being autistic, being a carrier for sickle cell, and predisposition to addiction (along with impulse control problems). Also, mental illness. Yeah, family curse dies with me.

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#32

Bipolar

Ansiosa_Fucker Report

#33

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Anger. My father gets angry and used to get violent and even beat up my mom and us kids. My first reaction for anything is anger but over the years I've tried to control my anger as much as possible and I'd say I'm doing a much better job than before.

peoplecallmedude797 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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Linnette Kessler
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Check if you're not depressed or suffer from temporal lobe epilepsy (not the epilepsy you have a grand or petit mal). . Anti depressants and epilepsy drugs turned this around for me.

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#34

It was a trade off great luscious hair on my head for thick body hair

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#35

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Bad skin

PM_ME_YOUR_PENIS20 , cottonbro Report

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Christian Miller Dunbar
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2 years ago

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This comment has been deleted.

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#36

extremely pale skin - to the point where i was known as the kid that has never seen the sun

sexhaver2010 Report

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InvincibleRodent
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was/am also deathly pale, to the point where doctors always remark on how I look sick even when I'm perfectly healthy and there for an unrelated reason.

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#37

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Same and the treatments are considered cosmetic where I live :( I just want to sweat a normal amount and not have to change my cloths multiple times a day like a normal person lol

Kyubey4Ever , Katya Wolf Report

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Dave van Es
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Botox injections can work. Also, ask your doctor about aluminumhydroxychloride. (the latter worked wonders for me)

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#38

According to women, I'm short, according to my genetics I'm a giant so I guess it depends on which angle you look at it from?

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#39

Crappy immune system. It can't fight off a simple sinus infection but is always picking fights with harmless pollen, dander, my own joints.

AtheneSchmidt Report

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Upstaged75
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same here. I had several years where my body was randomly attacking itself. It went through almost all my functions - skin, joints, thyroid, liver, pancreas, etc. I've always had ridiculous allergies too.

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#41

Hearing loss and a speech impediment.

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#42

I have terrible eyesight which only affects women on my dad's side (so he's fine) and then I have an astigmatism from my mum. This all adds together to a nice large glasses prescription at the age of 18... (-6.50 L and -8.00 R)

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FlamingoPanda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always find it fascinating that people consider this to be bad eyesight. I have -13.5 L and -15.5 R which seems to really shock people. Even had a friend who did not realise you could get eyesight that bad.

#43

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Mental illness and bumpy nose.
I used to like my bumpy nose like, I didn’t mind it until someone commented it and told me I need plastic surgery

AshwagandhaReddit , Taylor Wright Report

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#44

Amelogenesis Imperfecta.

My younger sister and I got it from my Dad. It’s basically a dental condition. It makes my teeth come through without enamel (the white protectively layer), basically looking like I’ve never brushed them. They’re small, fragile, sensitive as f**k and cause a shitload of other problems.

From age 2 I’ve head surgeries, treatments, crowns, covers, nothing has done anything to increase my confidence in my smile. Ive always hated it, constantly been relentlessly bullied both in school and online for something I can’t control. Going back and forth to the dentist having treatment after treatment is demoralising, especially because my dentist always tells me it’s going to make my teeth look normal every time. They never do.

AI also causes mouth ulcers to no end, sometimes 6-8 at a time. My teeth break incredibly easily and I can’t get normal train track braces because taking them off would pull my teeth out or break them.

I’m now, at age 18, going through what is hopefully my final treatment. I’m waiting for Invisalign (my dentist is taking the p**s getting them in though) and then finally crowns that sit on my teeth like hats and baso make them look normal

I’m hoping it’s done before I go to university in September, or that’s more hassle.

More info here:
https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/amelogenesis-imperfecta/

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#46

Balding, Crohn's disease, bad eyes, and my grandfather's mug but I have a 4.0 GPA and a big penis so that keeps me happy.

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#47

Asthma and allergies since very young. High cholesterol since early 30s.

BKStephens Report

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Kobus Loots
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I also have asthma and very bad allergies, I have found that living at the beach helps though

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#48

Eczema, which I grew out of.

A generally feminine build/facial structure. (I am a male)

Enough left-handedness that I don't know which hand to use. (Right handed)

Probably alcoholism, but I don't drink just to be safe.

placeholderNull Report

#49

Dad has IBS-D, mom has IBS-C. My GI said you’d think they’d meet somewhere in the middle and give you regular bowel movements. Sadly not, I’m also a C.

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#50

30 Times People Lost The Gene Lottery, According To This Viral Thread Hard to tell what was s****y genetics and what was a result of my mother smoking like a chimney throughout the pregnancy.

TirayShell , Giorgio Trovato Report

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Delta Dawn
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s mainly linked to low birth weight or prematurity, not genetic disorders per se. FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome) comes with developmental problems though.

#51

A whole bunch of dumb stuff…

1. Bad blood circulation: my hands get purple with the slightest drop in temperature. Thanks dad
2. Chicken skin. Thanks mom
3. Unpredictable intestinal tract. Thanks mom
4. Anxiety. Thanks mom
5. Frequent random headaches. Thanks mom and dad.
6. 5’4” height. Thanks mom.
7. Subpar eyesight. Thanks mom.
8. Undiagnosed attention deficit disorder. Thanks dad.

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#52

Albinism and a vitamin B issue, apparently

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#53

A fat a*s butt no hips. Tragic.

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#54

Have a precursor for lung and liver disease, as well as a risk for ALSO fatty liver. Mental health issues such as ADD/ depression run strong.
Also, people tend to pass in their 50’s 60’s on that side.

Mensa IQ scores. But ADD makes it seem like we are disorganized.

And no, I don’t have Mensa. But my dad and sister do.

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#55

Gastritis from more than 2 alcoholic beverages. Can't eat without projectile puking for around 1-2 days after. Got it from my Momma, but at least I'm a cheap date lol

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#57

I have pimples and bumps on my face. The bumps I can't get off. The pimples are extremely painful to pop. Also I have insomnia which I inherited from my mom, apparently the very sleepy genes my dad has were completely erased from me cuz I stay up so long each night and then my mom gets mad at me for staying up so long even though she should have been asleep too at that time.

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