12 rare features that make you unique — from unusual toe size to certain eye colour

Let's face it, the world would be boring if everyone was the same.

Sometimes, it is our differences that make us who we are, and even if we grew up being teased over the colour of our or our smudged writing from being left-handed, these physical traits should be embraced. Our uniqueness is a great conversation starter, can set us apart from the crowd, and can actually reveal a lot about your health.

In fact, certain features may be able to inform if you are at risk of more serious health problems, including breast cancer and kidney issues, as well as particular perks like not going grey while you're still young. So without further ado, let's go through some of the most unique features you have, and what it says about you.

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Left-handed

One in 10 of us are left-handed, including , Jennifer Lawrence and Sir Paul McCartney, and it can be handed down genetically. Left-handers are better at memory tasks and less likely to get and ulcers, but some studies have suggested they may be more at risk for breast cancer and sleep deprivation.

Being ambidextrous is far more rare, with just one per cent of people being able to use both hands equally well. Why this happens is unknown but studies suggest children who are ambidextrous are more likely to have mental health problems and school difficulties. It’s also been linked to a greater incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder and ADHD.

Green eyes

Just two per cent of people have this eye colour, but it may put them more at risk of problems like macular degeneration because their eyes contain less melanin, which helps shield them from the sun’s rays.

Different colour eyes

Do you have unmatched irises? If so, you're one of a select bunch. Heterochromia, as it's known, is only present in less than one per cent of the global population. Actor Henry Cavill is among them. It's usually genetic, not always uniform and caused by a different concentration of melanin in each eye.

Double eyelashes

Movie star Elizabeth Taylor was one of the few people with distichiasis, where two rows of eyelashes develop. It's the result of a genetic mutation and while it can look very attractive, the condition can also cause eye irritation and infections.

Red hair

If you're a redhead, you are actually among just two per cent of the 's population who have locks in this shade. Redheads tend to go grey less quickly, but studies show that they feel pain more than blondes or brunettes.

Double crown

One in 20 people have a double crown – or whorl where the hair grows in a circular formation from the top of the head. It is genetic, but while it makes thinning hair more obvious there’s no evidence it makes you more prone to going bald.

Long second toe

A fifth of people have a second toe that is longer than their big toe. Known as Morton's toe it can cause pain thanks to its impact on weight distribution. However, the foot quirk could also be an advantage in sport, with a 2004 study showing that more professional athletes had it than didn't

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Holes by the ear

It looks like a piercing, but a hole at the top of your ear by the cheekbone could be what's called a preauricular pit, a feature that affects less than one per cent of us. It's a genetic anomaly, which some boffins think is a remnant of gills. They can cause infections and abscesses or be linked to more serious genetic conditions that cause kidney issues.

Gappy teeth

Having a gap between your top front two teeth is actually quite common, with 25 per cent of people having diastema, including models like Lara Stone. It's often hereditary but doesn’t usually pose any health problems, and it's a myth that those with one have a higher sex drive.

Extra rib

Usually, people have 24 ribs, 12 on each side of the body. About one in 200 people are born with an extra. It is known as a cervical rib and doesn’t usually cause symptoms, but can cause thoracic outlet syndrome, where nerves and blood vessels get squashed, leading to arm and hand problems. This can often be treated with medicine and physiotherapy.

Outie belly button

Around 10 per cent of the nation may have navels that stick out. It's a remnant of the umbilical cord and not the result of how it was cut after birth, but how it healed. Either type can be related to conditions like a hernia, while an 'innie' can put you more prone
to infections.

How many of the unique characteristics do you have? Let us know in the comments section below