We all bleed red – except, perhaps, for the famed 19th century Fugate clan of the Appalachian Mountains. Blue Caucasians popped up in the hills as late as 1975, but the sprawling family never granted an interview and it took a scientist years to track down a member.
Blueish skin is caused by a rare disease known as hereditary methemoglobinemia, or met-H. This disease results in espresso colored blood, which in turn makes the skin appear blue. Since it is a recessive gene, it can only occur if both parents happen to carry it. In the case of the Fugates, they were blue due to intermarrying with another met-H clan, the Smiths. (Of all the luck.) Subsequent decades of many marriages between close cousins – let’s restrain ourselves here, people – created a very blue group. Fortunately, in the 1960s, a scientist persuaded one Fugate to accept enzyme treatment, and within minutes of the dose, said Fugate turned into a regular old whitey.
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