Lil Bub is one of the most popular Internet celebrity cats in the world with over 2 million Instagram followers. Although it’s easy to enjoy a picture of Lil Bub, scientists wanted to discover exactly what makes Lil Bub so adorable.

That’s why molecular biologists have devoted years studying the genetics of celebrity cat Lil Bub. By studying Lil Bub’s genetics, scientists believe doctors can learn how to better treat human patients whose osteopetrosis stems from the same gene mutation that afflicts Lil Bub. Who knew a cat could help humanity out so much?

To learn more about the scientific background behind Lil Bub’s cuteness, click here.