In a yet another case of genetic mutation, a goat was born with a "human face" and is now making headlines. The mutant goat's face remarkably resembles that of a human, so much so that people around that goat have begun to worship the animal as God because for them it is no less than a miracle. The goat was born in Nimodia in Rajasthan, northwest India and is being called as an avatar of God" after the residents couldn't contain their surprise. The animal was born with a flat face and big-shaped eyes that clearly resembled that of a human. The goat reportedly belongs to Mukeshji Prajapap, and he understands that it suffers from a rare congenital defect known as "cyclopia", reports Mirror.co.uk. The birth defect is responsible for the genes which create facial symmetry. It is said that one in 16,000 animals are born with cyclopia and that it also affects humans. Calf with Strange 'Human Face' Sends Chills Across Social Media! Watch Bizarre Video from Argentina. 

What Is Cyclopia?

Cyclopia, a rare birth defect, affects both humans and animals.  It is caused when the front part of the brain doesn’t split into right and left hemispheres, which is commonly the case. Cyclopia usually causes the organism to be born with a single eye or a partially divided eye and no nose. However, sometimes a proboscis,  growth similar to the nose develops above the eye in human babies while in gestation. The survival rate of animal or human babies born with Cyclopia is very low. Most babies only live for hours after being born. Miscarriages or stillbirth are common results of Cyclopia. ‘Half-Pig Half-Human’ Creature Born To a Goat Freaks Filipino Villagers Out (Watch Video).

The condition gets more severe that a baby born with one eye. It is not just a malformation of the baby's outer physical parts but the baby’s brain in gestation itself. Also known as alobar holoprosencephaly, it is said to occur in about 1 in 100,000 newborn human babies. It exists in another form in animals and there is no prevention or cure for the disease. Fish From China With a Human-Like Face Goes Viral on the Internet! Netizens Freaked Out (Watch Scary Video). 

It is not uncommon for people in urban India to consider such birth defects as an act of God. Same with the residents in remote Nimodia who have been worshipping the mutant goat. Just last year, a baby boy with two heads and three hands was born to a woman in a village at Ganjbasoda, Madhya Pradesh, in the Vidisha district. According to the doctors, only one heart was visible of the newborn, who also has two palms on one hand. Such incidents are often considered to be God's act. However, not every time it works in favour of the person involved. A few months ago, a woman in Odisha's Ganjam was labelled as a witch that caused her to confine herself to the four walls of her house for being born with 20 toes and 12 fingers. Known as Nayak Kumari, the 63-year-old lives in Kadapada village of Ganjam district.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 22, 2020 01:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).