David Tennant's rare genetic condition explained after Doctor Who star reveals he has six toes
David Tennant has revealed he has a rare health condition, which has come as a shock to some fans. The Doctor Who star recently spoke to Metro about how nervous he was about hosting the upcoming BAFTAs.
But it wasn't the only thing the Scot got candid about. The 53-year-old, who hails from Bathgate, confirmed fans' suspicions that he has six toes.
Tennant has a little-known genetic condition that means he was born with six toes on his right feet. There had been speculation online, namely Reddit, that the Broadchurch actor had more than the average amount of toes.
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Tennant confirmed the suspicions during Monday's interview, saying it looks "sort of like a nubbin".
When asked if people knew about his extra toe, the actor responded: “Well, they do now. It’s sort of like a nubbin.”
Tennant's rare disorder is called polydactyly, which causes babies to be born with extra fingers and toes as well as a range of birth defects, according to research co-led by University of Leeds.
Tennant has postaxial polydactyly, which is when you have an extra little finger or toe.
Polydactyly can occur without a known reason, but sometimes a child can inherit a gene mutation from a parent which can cause the extra digit, as per John Hopkins Medicine.
The disorder is caused by a genetic mutation in a gene called MAX. As well as extra digits, it leads to a range of symptoms relating to ongoing brain growth, such as autism.
“There are currently no treatments for these patients," Dr James Poulter University of Leeds said. "This means that our research into rare conditions is not only important to help us understand them better, but also to identify potential ways to treat them."
Dr Poulter said researchers had found a drug that is already in clinical trials for another disorder – meaning they could fast track this for these patients if their research finds the drug reverses some of the effects of the mutation.
According to University of Boston, people with polydactyly can undergo surgery to remove the extra digit. The type of surgery depends on the location and development of the extra digit.
Dr Poulter underlined the importance of patients and their families discovering the cause of their condition and if they can access a therapy based on their genetic diagnosis, "as that could be life changing."
Researchers say finding out the impact of the mutation on the function of MAX is the first step towards the development of a treatment for the disorder.
On the BAFTAs gig, Tennant said: "It's a lovely thing to be asked to do and it's a huge privilege, and it's very giddy-making...
"When you're standing on that stage looking out at all the most famous people in the world, you just think: 'How did I end up doing this?'"
The actor is currently starring in ITV's new drama, 'The Hack', which follows the phone hacking scandal from the producers behind Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
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