Goat with 8 legs is born in Bohol

Can a goat with eight legs exist? The answer is yes, and one can be found right here in the Philippines in Bohol.

According to Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras Weekend," Sunday, the goat has a condition called dipygus, a severe genetic deformity where there is a teratological or abnormal-growing fetus with two pelvises, genitals, and extremities or limbs.

Animals who suffer from this condition can live a life of approximately three to four years.

The condition can also happen in humans. There have been at least two reported cases in the United States dating back to 1868, one of whom became a circus performer in the 1920s.

In other cases, humans or animals that live on land with extra limbs may have a condition called polymelia, a birth defect where the subject has accessory limbs that are typically shorter than the usual limbs.

"Polymelia" comes from the Greek words, "poly," which means "many," and "melos," which means "limb."

The defect could be a result of a genetic disorder, mutation in their genes, or instability of their chromosomes, which are DNA molecules.

According to a study in 2002, for every 100,000 cattle, only four have polymelia.

—Kimberly Tsao/MGP, GMA Integrated News