Do you have twelve fingers?

I bet you didn't even know that you could have 12 fingers! If you think that having 12 fingers is a disadvantage, I would consider rethinking that.

The disease, Ellis-van Creveld, also known as Chondroectodermal Dysplasia, Ellis-van Creveld dysplasia, and EvC Syndrome, can allow you to have 12 fingers.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a dwarf from Snow White?

Well, if you have Ellis-van Creveld, you're in luck. This condition causes short ribs, malformation of the wrist bone, and short-limbed dwarfism.

Other symptoms of Ellis-van Creveld include heart defects, teeth present at birth, fingernail dysplasia, and cleft palate.

Any one like Prince Charming (male) or Cinderella (female) can be affected with Ellis-van Creveld. It generally affects ethnic groups. The majority of the 150 people diagnosed with it are in the Old Order Amish community and the natives of Western Australia.

When the Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk was born, there was most likely a mutation in the gene causing him to be a giant. So, to receive Ellis-van Creveld, there has to be a mutation in the EVC gene. The mutation can also be in the EVC2 gene. The gene causing EVC has been mapped to the short arm of chromosome 4.

Like in Sleeping Beauty, she is helped by fairy godmothers, but when you have Ellis-van Creveld, you need assistance from medical professionals, such as pediatricians, surgeons, cardiologists, dentists, pulmonologists, orthopedists, urologists, physical and occupational therapists and/or other healthcare professionals. As the child containing Ellis-van Creveld grows older, the child will need the same medical professional help, and will most likely live with serious, life-threatening health problems.