Makes sense, seems like in the 1960s they came up with a solution for removing the blue color, so most likely if they have the recessive gene, they are taking those pills.

> Using research collected from studies of isolated Alaskan Eskimo populations, Cawein was able to conclude that the Fugates carried a rare hereditary blood disorder that causes excessive levels of methemoglobin in their blood.

> Cawein devised a cure for this disorder: more blue. Counterintuitively, the best chemical for activating the body’s process of turning methemoglobin to hemoglobin is methylene blue dye. The Fugates he treated ingested this dye and within a few minutes, the blue coloration of their skin disappeared, and their skin turned pink.

> As long as they kept ingesting pills of the substance regularly, these blue people of Kentucky could live their lives normally.

Very well could be. I'd never heard of it at the time I knew them, so didn't know to look or even ask.

I can't confirm they are direct lineage or anything, though. I only know they were Fugate from eastern KY. It's not a particularly common name, nor is eastern KY particularly well populated so figure they are related in some manner.