| Perhaps you heard of a child born with | | | | the “crab child” to any of these |
| “crab hands”—instead of | | | | factors is to be medically correct. |
| having five fingers, his arms end in two thick | | | | Physical characteristics or the hereditary traits are |
| appendages that look like the pincers of a crab. In | | | | transmitted from parents to offspring by the |
| the Philippines, many folks would most likely blame | | | | deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) the genes contain. |
| this on 'paglilihí.' | | | | The fundamental hereditary material in almost all |
| According to a longstanding Filipino belief | | | | organisms, DNA determines the general makeup |
| concerning 'paglilihí,' when the wishes or | | | | of an individual—such as hair color, |
| craving of a mother during the early stages of | | | | complexion, height, bone structure, and even the |
| her pregnancy were not satisfied, her unborn | | | | shape of the hands. |
| child’s condition would be adversely | | | | In genetics, or the science of heredity and the |
| affected; and worse, whatever she had craved | | | | relationships of organisms resulting from the |
| for and eaten avidly during her 'paglilihí' | | | | interaction of their genes and the environment, |
| would influence the child’s physical | | | | there is a process known as 'mutation.' This |
| characteristics. People who believe in such cases | | | | abnormal process involves the alteration in the |
| would surely allege that the mother of the | | | | genetic material transmitted to the offspring. It |
| “crab child” had feasted on crabs | | | | may be spontaneous—that is, the result of |
| when she was in the stage of 'paglilihí.' In | | | | accidents in the replication of the genetic |
| fact, in the Philippines, claims like “'pinaglihi sa | | | | material—or induced by external factors |
| palaka, sa luya, sa dwende…'” | | | | like temperature, x-rays, ultraviolet light, and |
| [conceived of frog, of ginger, of dwarf…], or | | | | chemicals. Its likely results are congenital |
| even “'sa sama ng loob'” [of ill | | | | abnormalities, physical deformities, and other |
| feelings] are very common. However, thanks to | | | | aberrations. And any one or a combination of |
| the advancements in medical science—for | | | | such spontaneous and external factors is the |
| the many myths about 'paglilihí' are | | | | more probable reason some children are born with |
| gradually being dispelled. | | | | “crab hands” or any other unusual |
| Medical science now provides us with a better | | | | physical features. |
| understanding of the term 'paglilihí,' which | | | | ====== |
| refers to the period that stretches from | | | | Footnote: |
| conception through the first trimester of | | | | ====== |
| pregnancy. In this stage, the pregnant | | | | In 1977, in a remote province in China, Yu |
| experiences hormonal changes that affect her | | | | Chenhuan surprised his parents when he was born |
| bodily functions. The craving, hypersensitivity of | | | | with long silky hair on almost his entire body. His |
| taste and smell, nausea, morning sickness, and | | | | condition continued to mystify everyone as he |
| mood swings are common symptoms of the | | | | grew up into a very hairy boy. People who believe |
| changes. Some psychologists also claim that the | | | | in the myth of 'paglilihí' would simply |
| hormonal swings of pregnancy can make a | | | | dismiss Yu as a case of a child conceived of |
| woman more emotional; she may begin feeling | | | | monkey ['pinaglihi sa unggoy']. However, the |
| neglected. Because her belly begins to distend, she | | | | medical experts who looked into his condition |
| may feel fat and unattractive. To reassure | | | | found out that Yu was suffering from a disorder |
| herself, she may seek her husband’s | | | | known as 'hypertrichosis.' Also called 'hirutism,' this |
| attention more frequently by, typically, asking for | | | | is the rare genetically transmitted X-linked |
| certain hard-to-find delicacies. | | | | dominant disorder that is characterized by |
| The health of the mother during pregnancy has | | | | excessive hairiness on either localized areas or the |
| indeed many effects on the developing fetus. For | | | | entire skin of the body./©2004 eLf ideas |
| example, women who, during pregnancy, were | | | | =========== |
| malnourished, did smoke or drink, or had in any | | | | References: |
| way ingested unprescribed drugs would have had | | | | =========== |
| greater chances of delivering babies with | | | | 'The World’s Fantastic Freaks.' Octopus |
| congenital defects. And to attribute the case of | | | | Publishing Group Ltd., 1986. |