Sometimes a genetic mutation isn’t binary. Meaning, a mutation has the ability to affect only one side of the body part in question, such as one eye, one leg, or one ear. This lobster had some pretty indecisive DNA and ended up coming out with two completely different body colors.

Indeed, this bear’s face is absolutely spectacular! The bright, cheery hues are enough to make him stand out alone, but there are more surprises in his genes than color alone. This bear is representative of a species that comprises the last short-nosed bears on earth, and the only ones native to South America.

This cat’s face has the type of rare beauty that inspires art, and indeed, this feline looks statuesque. Would you believe it is a genetic mutation, though? There are some mutations that both people and animals share, and this one is vitiligo!

Sometimes a genetic mutation doesn’t affect color patterns so much as it does body structure. This cat hit the genetics jackpot with an illustriously long tail. Even she looks surprised at how long it is.

When nature becomes indecisive, you never know what gene pool she’s gonna draw from. Sometimes, it’s a mixed bag of genetic expression. Like this cat with two completely different faces.

Peacocks are one of the most gorgeous birds to walk the earth already. Particularly the males, with their majestic splays of colorful feathers. Nature never seems to outdo herself though, as it has proven with this amazing peacock that is only half albino, allowing it to stand out in any season!

Australian shepherd dogs are perhaps one of the most fantastic and diverse examples of genetics at play. With over four different types of possible patternings and color combinations, you never really know what you can expect out of one of these beauties. This dog clearly had some indecisive DNA going on because it took the best of all patterns and put them on full display!

No matter how much breeding people involve themselves in or how much they aim for a set trait in an animal, nature will always trump their efforts. German shepherds are gorgeous dogs all on their own, but nature sure seemed to favor this one. With a black face, short pointed ears, and piercing blue eyes set in tan rings of fur, this Shephard has a much more wild and beautiful look to it than its already beautiful buddies.

People have been using colors to identify themselves along with team preferences since color options in clothing became available. This is most obvious in sports teams that usually have a scheme of two to three colors going on. Well, nature is a fan, too, and chose to make this cow’s DNA express itself as a Steeler’s fan, even sporting the number of its favorite player!

Nature definitely has a sense of humor, and sometimes it’s expressed in our DNA. While some creatures, like raccoons, sport adorable little masks that are suited to their night-time thieving personalities, other times nature brands animals that would otherwise be inconspicuous. Like this cat who is probably leading a feline criminal ring in town.

Now, we have seen what nature can do with lobster colors, such as splitting it right down the middle with two completely different colors. This lobster, though, expressed an entirely different genetic mutation. Instead of binary colors, this guy is a deep blue as pure as the sea! No wonder they aren’t easily found!

We have seen how a genetic mutation can cause a human to have insane amounts of strength in the comic books. This usually is only depicted as happening to people, though, leaving countless people daydreaming about falling into a vat of radioactive material or being bitten by some mutated spider. Nature gets the last laugh, though, by giving this ultra-desired mutation to cow via a mutation in their myostatin gene.

Deer are beautiful and majestic forest creatures in everyday life, but did you know that there is an even more fantastical creature among them? The unicorn of the forest, a piebald deer is a species of the white-tailed deer born of two parents carrying the recessive gene. Comprising only 2% of the deer population, these beautiful deer are a true forest rarity.

Strange variances in cat skin and fur patterns is nothing new, and is one of the many things we love about them. When it is seen on the big felines in the wild though, it presents a little more of a head-scratcher. Researchers recently thought the “King Cheetah” was an entirely separate species from normal patterned cheetahs, until they discovered that the pattern difference is actually a result of a mutated gene that the King Cheetah shares with Tabby cats.

Possums can be described as many things, but beautiful has never been one of them. Often considered to be made of the stuff of nightmares with their beady eyes and hissy nature, this Australian possum will do away with that notion entirely. A genetic mutation causes these field possums to come out a beautiful golden hue with a much adored Pikachu-like face!

Humpback whales are not common sea creatures by comparison to their former population. So, it is even more rare to catch a glimpse of an albino humpback. This whale who has been endearingly named Migaloo, is so rare that he has become famous!

Chicken comes in many shapes, sizes and colors. Even albino chicks aren’t considered all that rare. This Ayam Cemani chicken, on the other hand, has a mutation that leaves his entire body a beautiful, shimmering black color that includes its skin and organs!

Squirrels are adorable little fluff ball creatures that are familiar the world over. Cuteness was perfected in this tiny, rambunctious treehopper. Even though people might not think there was anything to improve upon, clearly this squirrel’s DNA wanted to stand out, and so it did.

Panda bears are basically an international icon in terms of cuddly cuteness. Their big black and white patches that emerge out of their super fluffy fur on their chubby bodies is enough to make anyone giddy with cuteness overload. This Panda wasn’t content to be your typical bamboo-munching blubber-ball, though, and came out with beautiful light brown patches instead of the typical black.

Not all mutations can be blamed on the natural order of things. This dog took on the gorgeous color and spot pattern of a cheetah as a result of mixed breeding. Talk about winning the genetic lottery!

Cardinals are iconic birds known for their brilliant red splash of color often seen against a white backdrop of snow. Even these beautiful birds sometimes take a genetic gamble, though, and change their color. This results in the much rarer Yellow Cardinal that looks like a blur of sunlight in wintertime.

Genes and DNA are a strange thing, to be sure. Not only can it affect colors, markings, or mass, but it can also change your hair pattern, too. This cat’s DNA is decidedly against the cold, because this larger than life kitty has been blessed with a fur coat fit for a bear!

Sometimes nature decides to get a good laugh while organizing the genes of each animal on the planet. This cat got the brunt of it with his slick white mustache. We love the perfect handlebar shape.

Sometimes nature allows the strangest things. Having similar genetics, male zebras have on occasion bred with female horses to create their very own unique offspring. Although they are usually sterile, the lovechild of the horse and zebra have resulted in the Zorse that carries on the strange and beautiful patternings of both parents.

Any animal can carry recessive genes that could pop up at any given moment along a hereditary timeline, and Dalmatians are no different. Unlike an albino Dalmatian, which lacks all color and has pink eyes, these Lemon Dalmatians take on a different mutation. Rather than black spots, a recessive gene that produces red colors has created these reddish-brown spots in this Dalmatian while keeping her big doe-brown eyes.

Genetic diversity can take the most adorable of animals and make them that much cuter. Who would have ever thought that a baby seal could look any more precious than they already do? Well, nature, apparently.

Everything animals and humans are blessed with, each unique feature or physical characteristic, comes down to one important thing. Our DNA. This dog happened to get the gene in charge of fabulous long, shiny locks, and she doesn’t look at all ashamed of it.

Sometimes a genetic mutation only adds minute changes. Some are barely noticeable, and others are so in contrast with outlying physical features that it stands out from afar. This Rottie’s beauty was compounded by the strange bearded and heavy-browed pattern of reddish-brown fur against the black and white covering the rest of him.

There is just something about albino animals that makes them seem like magical fantasy creatures. Albinoism extends much further than humans and big furry beasts, though. Like this snow-white Praying Mantis that looks angelic but is as deadly as ever.

Some men could end up getting jealous of this suave feline. Men work hard at growing out stylish beards that frame their face. All this cat had to do was be born, and the rest was up to nature and gene selection!