Can you roll your tongue? And did you know....

[SilverHairedCat]

it's nothing to do with genetics after all?

Despite what most of us were probably taught at school! It was debunked, as you can be taught to roll your tongue.

Can you touch your toes?

I can roll my tongue, and despite being very fat overweight, I have no difficulties in touching my toes. My slim DH can do neither.

AIBU to ask what you can or can't do that you take for granted? Or that's an interesting body fact?

My daughter can. We can't.
My husband went really funny with me when some kids programme said either parent has to be able to do it for their kid to.
Nearly ended in divorce until I presented him with proper evidence. Stupid programme

I can't wink - I've developed a very strange stare with head movement to use instead of a wink 😉 trouble is no one except me knows this and people think I'm having some kind of 'episode'.

I can't roll my tongue, touch my nose with my tongue or touch my toes......I'm pretty crap really 🤔

Tongue ‘rolling’ is entirely to do with the muscles in your tongue.
Everyone has the ability to learn to ‘roll’ their tongue, it’s just sometimes more difficult for some.
due to the placement of the muscles most people can usually roll their tongue into a tube, fold it or turn it over, being able to do more than one is rare.

The ‘genetics’ of it is simply that most people inherit similar family features, so it’s common for members of a family to all have similar tongue muscles placement and are able to roll their tongues in the same way.

I was taught at school 25 years ago that tongue rolling is only partly genetic. I seem to remember that if you want to learn to do it, you are more likely to be successful if you're fairly young. That's what they taught us anyway.

I can not only roll my tongue, but also fold it back on itself. In fact, I can fold it back so far I can touch my own uvula with the end of my tongue. It feels all delicate and squishy

I do have a picture of the tongue folding, but it’s not for the squeamish!

most people can usually roll their tongue into a tube, fold it or turn it over, being able to do more than one is rare.
I knew I was rare. I can also whistle through the tube

I can roll my tongue into a trefoil shape as well as the normal tube shape.

No idea how to roll my tongue or how I’d even consider learning it.

Can’t raise individual eyebrows either but both my kids seem to be able to and I love it. They do this little Spock style eyebrow raise. It makes me way happier than if ought.

I can make my tounge go into a sideways S.

I can bend just my first 2 toes on my left foot.

And just the first 3 toes on my right foot.

I can pop both hips out of place. DH finds it very creapy, you can see the bone pop out.

I can pop my jaw out of place. And make my jaw pop every time I open my mouth.

I can make my ears move.

I can touch the side of my arm with my thumb.

I can do a head stand for over an hour.

Me, my DM and DB can all roll our tongues. DF can't. My DH can curl his into a wierd four leaf clover style shape, but none of his immediate family can even roll their tongues in the baisc shape. Also, my DF can't for the life of him make a popping sound by pushing his finger out of the side of his cheek whilst puffing out his cheeks (if that even remotely makes sense) and he is almost 60!! Cue us asking him on a regular basis to 'Pop'

I can roll my tongue now but as a child I couldn’t. I can’t whistle.

Ooh, I can whistle through mine too! Not a tune, but I can make a parp noise! 😂

I read this article first: udel.edu/~mcdonald/mythtongueroll.html then fell down a rabbit warren of other articles from various news sources of different levels of repute.

Looks like my GCSE education was already out of date in 1997!

My DS taught himself to wiggle his ears!!

I can raise my left eye brow but not my right, I can tip my nose with my tongue (just) and I can move my ears but I can't roll my tongue. I can't blow bubbles with bubble gum although I have tried and tried and I can't hoola hoop.

I know a child who can roll his tongue and one day he will rule the world.

My son (10) can roll his tongue has been able since he was about 3...

I can roll my tongue and get my ankles behind my neck, I can also hold my hands behind my back and bring them over my head to the front without letting go... I’ve no idea what this looks like but my friends all pull weird faces and watch from behind their hands 😂😂

yaay I'm one rare ones, I can roll to different sizes e.g. flat tougue but with the sides and front turned up, fold it back, but not as far as pp and turn it over.

I can touch my toes
I can wiggle my ears separately.

I can't touch my nose with my tongue.

I do make a lot more cracking noises than I used to though... so I don’t do it much now!

I just taught that this is genetic! I don’t believe it is entirely taught-my dc have both been able to do it from a young age without ‘learning’. I did teach myself to raise one eyebrow but I can’t see how you could ‘learn’ tongue rolling in the same way?

I can’t touch my toes. I think it’s because I have long legs and slightly short arms. Couldn’t do it even after doing yoga for several years.

oh and I can blow a little floating bubble out of my sliver. I think it's great, my family thing it's disgusting.

@JustLikeBefore you can blow a floating bubble out of your what now?

I can do all of the above with my tongue and also roll it from back to front like it's belly dancing... I taught myself that (misspent youth!)

My toes and feet are quite handy at holding things/ picking things up. It's only when people point out that I'm doing it that I realise not everyone does/can!