September 9, 2006: Wolf girl

Undertoad · 09-09-2006, 07:42 AM

This Thai girl is Supatra Sasuphan, nicknamed Nat. Apparently she lives a normal life, and a happy one. She looks happy. But she has a rare problem: Hypertrichosis, which as you can see causes hair to grow all over her face and body.

The caption on this item claimed that there have been 40 documented cases since first documented in 1648. But it's not a disease; it's a natural human genetic variation. That's right: somewhere deep in our DNA is the ability for all of us to be like that.

This Mexican family has multiple cases of it, showing how the genetic linkage appears.

IotD has seen this before here.

Griff · 09-09-2006, 07:54 AM

That kid has a lovely smile.

xoxoxoBruce · 09-09-2006, 08:20 AM

I wonder if they combed it down over her face for the photographs? It seems they would try to comb it, or cut it, away from her eyes. That would be a source of constant irritation, getting poked in the eye.

aside: From the link....

Quote:

Life for hairy brothers Victor "Larry" and Gabriel "Danny" Ramos Gomez is anything but dull.

Larry? Danny? Like Cellar member Billy, in China, there seems to be a desire for Anglo sounding nicknames.

Spexxvet · 09-09-2006, 10:49 AM

I hope she donates to the oil spill hair clean-up effort.

Trilby · 09-09-2006, 11:46 AM

Can't somebody at least OFFER her electrolysis? Just as an option? Perhaps she truly is happy like that but, my lord, it looks like it would be pretty hot under all that hair.

RellikLaerec · 09-09-2006, 04:15 PM

hmm... when she washes her face, does she use facial soap or shampoo?

DucksNuts · 09-09-2006, 07:55 PM

Hmmm - to take the high road or the low road??

Its Sunday, I'll take the high road.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bri

Can't somebody at least OFFER her electrolysis?

I was thinking Laser Hair Removal, better long term effect, but I guess its a big outlay of money and yeah, maybe she is really happy.

milkfish · 09-10-2006, 06:50 AM

I'm assuming those other kids are classmates, not siblings. Either way, I would nominate them with their nonchalance as being the most remarkable parts of the images. (I like how the girl in the second picture is not the one being pointed at.)

Promenea · 09-10-2006, 08:51 AM

What surprises me is the relative lack of hair on her arms. I'd always thought that this gene didn't simply direct hair growth on the face but on the whole body as well.

The 42 · 09-10-2006, 10:05 AM

Poor little girl

She may seem happy now, but just wait until she hits seventh grade... it'll just go downhill from there. I hope they find some way of getting rid of that hair by then!

Now, I personally don't have anything against people with physical differences, (how can I, in my proffesion?) but what she has is not a deformity and not a disorder, so her classmates may be less sensitive about it.

One funny question- why is some of the hair white?

She does have a lovely smile, though.

capnhowdy · 09-10-2006, 06:05 PM

I wonder if she'll have a huge bush when she gets grown.

kisrael · 09-14-2006, 09:33 AM

BoingBoing mentioned that the parents hope the hair falls out as she becomes an adult, as sometimes happens in these cases, but if not they do have an offer for laser treatment.

Pie · 09-14-2006, 09:49 AM

UT, just out of curiosity, why did you change the way you specify the date on the IoTDs?

Undertoad · 09-14-2006, 10:07 AM

To better accomodate blog-format readers who are accustomed to the day-first date format. (vBulletin readers already get a dose of mm-dd-yyyy on every message.)

I agree that the very best format is year-month-day, but that's a clash of civilizations that we just won't win.

Pie · 09-14-2006, 01:55 PM

Ah-so.

09-09-2006, 07:42 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	September 9, 2006: Wolf girl This Thai girl is Supatra Sasuphan, nicknamed Nat. Apparently she lives a normal life, and a happy one. She looks happy. But she has a rare problem: Hypertrichosis, which as you can see causes hair to grow all over her face and body. The caption on this item claimed that there have been 40 documented cases since first documented in 1648. But it's not a disease; it's a natural human genetic variation. That's right: somewhere deep in our DNA is the ability for all of us to be like that. This Mexican family has multiple cases of it, showing how the genetic linkage appears. IotD has seen this before here.

09-09-2006, 07:54 AM	#2
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	That kid has a lovely smile. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

09-09-2006, 10:49 AM	#4
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	I hope she donates to the oil spill hair clean-up effort. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

09-09-2006, 11:46 AM	#5
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Can't somebody at least OFFER her electrolysis? Just as an option? Perhaps she truly is happy like that but, my lord, it looks like it would be pretty hot under all that hair. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

09-10-2006, 06:50 AM	#8
milkfish A serene breakdown Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern NJ, USA Posts: 266	I'm assuming those other kids are classmates, not siblings. Either way, I would nominate them with their nonchalance as being the most remarkable parts of the images. (I like how the girl in the second picture is not the one being pointed at.) __________________ A genius is one who can do anything except make a living. - Joey Lauren Adams

09-09-2006, 04:15 PM	#6
RellikLaerec Faithful Companion Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Buckeye City Posts: 185	hmm... when she washes her face, does she use facial soap or shampoo?

09-10-2006, 08:51 AM	#9
Promenea Resident President Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 86	What surprises me is the relative lack of hair on her arms. I'd always thought that this gene didn't simply direct hair growth on the face but on the whole body as well.

09-10-2006, 10:05 AM	#10
The 42 I'm not lurking, I'm stalking YOU! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Somwhere over the rainbow Posts: 70	Poor little girl She may seem happy now, but just wait until she hits seventh grade... it'll just go downhill from there. I hope they find some way of getting rid of that hair by then! Now, I personally don't have anything against people with physical differences, (how can I, in my proffesion?) but what she has is not a deformity and not a disorder, so her classmates may be less sensitive about it. One funny question- why is some of the hair white? She does have a lovely smile, though.

09-10-2006, 06:05 PM	#11
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	I wonder if she'll have a huge bush when she gets grown. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

09-14-2006, 09:33 AM	#12
kisrael Cantankerous Incantonator Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Boston Posts: 56	BoingBoing mentioned that the parents hope the hair falls out as she becomes an adult, as sometimes happens in these cases, but if not they do have an offer for laser treatment. __________________ http://kisrael.com - quotes and links daily, worth the click

09-14-2006, 09:49 AM	#13
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	UT, just out of curiosity, why did you change the way you specify the date on the IoTDs? __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

09-14-2006, 10:07 AM	#14
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	To better accomodate blog-format readers who are accustomed to the day-first date format. (vBulletin readers already get a dose of mm-dd-yyyy on every message.) I agree that the very best format is year-month-day, but that's a clash of civilizations that we just won't win.

09-14-2006, 01:55 PM	#15
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Ah-so. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

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