"Mighty mouse" gene found in humans
 Shaoni Bhattacharya
 22:00 23 June 04

By studying the genes of an unusually muscular child, scientists have
identified a gene in humans which has also been used to create "mighty
mice"
in the lab.

The discovery means that successful therapies for degenerative muscle
diseases in mice that target this gene might be also be effective in humans.

The strapping German boy, whose mother is a professional sprinter, is so
strong that at the age of just four and a half he can hold a three kilogram
weight in each hand with his arms outstretched horizontally.

The international team of scientists has shown that the boy has a single
mutation in the gene for a protein called myostatin. This gene has
previously been examined in mice, and blocking it can make mice twice as
brawny as normal. However, until now no one knew its effects in humans.

"The idea was if we could find ways to interfere with myostatin function,
perhaps we could slow down muscle loss in muscle wasting diseases and
hopefully increase lifespan," explains Se-Jin Lee at Johns Hopkins
University, Maryland, US, and one of the team.

"But a major question was - will this work in humans?" he says. The new
study confirms that the so-called "mighty mouse" gene does have the same
effects in humans.

Read the rest at NewScientist
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996065

Comment:
Genetic manipulation will change competitive sport (suspicion will be
further stimulated upon the arrival of three and four legged athletes).

Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek.
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