A team of researchers at the Stanford School of Medicine claims to have discovered a gene responsible for a rare and startling ability: visualizing a murder by simply touching a missing person’s sweater. Their work sheds new light on a phenomenon previously shrouded in mystery.
Researchers Identify Gene Responsible For Visualizing Murder After Touching Missing Person’s Sweater

Key Takeaways:
- Researchers at Stanford School of Medicine announced the discovery of a gene tied to murder-visualization.
- The phenomenon reportedly occurs when an individual handles a missing person’s sweater.
- Extensive DNA analysis led scientists to isolate this specific genetic sequence.
- The study highlights a “rare trait” now believed to have a biological basis.
- Originating from a satirical piece in The Onion, the report delivers an unconventional spin on scientific breakthroughs.
Setting the Stage
Scientists at the Stanford School of Medicine have reportedly identified a peculiar gene that grants certain individuals the ability to visualize a murder by touching a missing person’s sweater. According to details first shared in a piece by The Onion, the researchers declared their findings on Friday, emphasizing how this newly discovered gene might explain a trait once deemed too unusual to have a physiological cause.
The Alleged Genetic Marker
“Through extensive DNA analysis, we have finally isolated the sequence of base pairs […]” the research team was reported to say, highlighting the unconventional scope of their investigation. The mystery centers on the reported phenomenon: an apparently ordinary act of touching a piece of clothing—specifically a sweater—belonging to someone who has disappeared. This, in turn, supposedly triggers vivid visions of the person’s fate.
Implications for a Rare Trait
The group’s announcement described the ability to foresee violent scenarios by contact with missing persons’ belongings as a “rare trait,” one that had evaded scientific understanding for years. While the study’s premise borders on the fantastic, researchers contend that breakthroughs in genomic mapping make it increasingly feasible to associate particular human experiences with definable genetic markers.
Looking Ahead
For a discovery of this nature, the next phase would theoretically involve further laboratory testing and possible broader collaboration with forensic experts. While the satirical tone inherent to The Onion underpins the bizarre nature of the claim, it also raises intriguing questions about how far genetic science can go toward explaining atypical human capabilities—whatever those might be.