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I went to college in Kentucky with two of the Fugates, twins in fact. Sorry to report, neither were blue in color.

• diggan 5y ago
  Makes sense, seems like in the 1960s they came up with a solution for removing the blue color, so most likely if they have the recessive gene, they are taking those pills. > Using research collected from studies of isolated Alaskan Eskimo populations, Cawein was able to conclude that the Fugates carried a rare hereditary blood disorder that causes excessive levels of methemoglobin in their blood. > Cawein devised a cure for this disorder: more blue. Counterintuitively, the best chemical for activating the body’s process of turning methemoglobin to hemoglobin is methylene blue dye. The Fugates he treated ingested this dye and within a few minutes, the blue coloration of their skin disappeared, and their skin turned pink. > As long as they kept ingesting pills of the substance regularly, these blue people of Kentucky could live their lives normally.
  • silisili 5y ago
    Very well could be. I'd never heard of it at the time I knew them, so didn't know to look or even ask. I can't confirm they are direct lineage or anything, though. I only know they were Fugate from eastern KY. It's not a particularly common name, nor is eastern KY particularly well populated so figure they are related in some manner.
  • deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]