Boy with Myostatin Mutation

Pharma / TRT
1

From: http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/06/23/sci-tech/muscles040623

‘Mighty mouse’ gene helps super-strong boy
Last Updated Wed, 23 Jun 2004 20:00:14
BOSTON - A genetic mutation in “mighty mice” is also found in a German boy with unusually large muscles, scientist say.

Boy with genetic mutation that boosts muscle growth is shown at seven months old of age. (AP Photo/New England Journal of Medicine)

The four-year-old’s muscles are roughly twice as large as other children his age. Researchers found he has an inherited mutation in the myostatin gene, boosting muscle growth and reducing fat.

“This is the first evidence that myostatin regulates muscle mass in people as it does in other animals,” said Dr. Se-Jin Lee, a professor of molecular biology and genetics at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and a co-author of the study.

Naturally bulky cattle such as Belgian Blues also lack myostatin, the researchers have found.

Lee’s team wants to explore if interfering with myostatin can slow down muscle loss in muscle wasting diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. About 850 males in Canada have the disease.

Seven years ago, Lee’s team created mice that are twice as brawny as normal by blocking the mysotatin gene. Both Lee and his university would share in royalties if the research results in any commercial therapies.

The researchers sequenced the myostatin gene from the boy and his mother, a former professional sprinter. They found he had two mutant copies and she had one. Other members of her family are reportedly strong.

The boy, whose identity hasn’t been revealed, is healthy. Doctors worry he could suffer heart or other health problems in the future.

The study appears in Thursday’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Other researchers agreed blocking myostatin has therapeutic potential for muscle disorders, but warned of the potential for abuse by athletes.

“Although these pathways hold great promise for the treatment of muscle-degenerative disorders, the potential for abuse outside of the medical arena is substantial,” Dr. Elizabeth McNally of the University of Chicago said in a Journal commentary.

“Further studies of the safety, efficacy, and long-term consequences of manipulating muscle growth are needed.”

Written by CBC News Online staff

2

I’ve been waiting to see a human with this mutation for a while, ever since those myostatin “blocking” products came out. Great find.

3

I’d abuse it. he he

4

wish i was a genetic freak

5

Ronnie Coleman has it. I’ve seen him workout at my gym. It was impressive sight.

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Further studies of the safety, efficacy, and long-term consequences of manipulating muscle growth are needed."

What they really want to study is ways to make sure that nobody benefits from these findings unless the medical profession and pharmaceutical industry somehow profits from it.

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I’ll say true dat, true dat.

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[quote]darkside339 wrote:
Further studies of the safety, efficacy, and long-term consequences of manipulating muscle growth are needed."

What they really want to study is ways to make sure that nobody benefits from these findings unless the medical profession and pharmaceutical industry somehow profits from it. [/quote]

You hit that one right on the head! That’s all they’re worried about—losing the precious rights to another wonder drug. And getting it out before an OTC supplement beats them to it! Why does it seem like so many in the medical community lose endless amounts of sleep worrying about what substance athletes are going to abuse next? Don’t they have anything better to do?