by Tyrone Rugen, post-doctoral researcher, Harvard University
Cambridge, MA, June 10
Dear Grant Committee:
My team of thirty scientists intends to study the phenomenon, extensively-documented in images of the Gaza Strip shared across social media, of children who have more than the median number of digits on their hands. As such, we request funding for this project in the amount of $95,000.
As the Committee knows, images have proliferated online since October 7, 2023, depicting children rescued from rubble of bombed-out buildings. A crude calculation of the collected images points to between 8.67 percent and 20.33 percent of the depicted children as having polydactyly. This statistic represents an anomalous figure of significant magnitude, given the worldwide incidence of polydactyly as a mere 0.3–3.6 per 1000 live births, or less than half a percent.
A previous proposal to examine this curious phenomenon suggested that many of the images originated not in Gaza but in Artificial Intelligence engines, and constituted disinformation aimed at libeling Israel and its military. However, at Harvard, such notions lie outside the acceptable bounds of thought. This follow-up finding proposal, therefore, takes the images at face value.
We propose to send a team of ten researchers to catalog, categorize, identify, and contact the guardians of a statistically-significant sample size of the photographed children, tentatively between two and four percent of the number depicted in the various images.
With contact established, the team will endeavor to travel to take DNA samples of as many such affected children as possible, by means of a cheek swab, to isolate and identify what gene, if any, plays a role in the observed condition that seems several orders of magnitude more prevalent in the Gaza Palestinian population than in humanity at large, and appears to have begun its proliferation only in the last several years, given that the images show a distinct absence of polydactyly among those older than ten years of age.
Once a genetic mechanism has been established, the team will consider its follow-up steps. If, however, no genetic factor appears in evidence, the team will - this is Harvard, as mentioned - attempt to establish a causal link to Israeli actions, military or otherwise, to blame for the deformities. Such as approach has enjoyed acceptance in academia for decades, but now sees wider adoption in the culture at large, in particular in journalism.
A projected cost breakdown and a more detailed discussion of methodologies, equipment, and research program structure follows on the following page and attachments.
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