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Kishes

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http://cbsnewyork.com/healthwatch/health_s..._175140250.html

Docs Discover Baby Superman
Genetic Mutation Makes Him Super Strong

Jun 23, 2004 5:00 pm US/Eastern
(AP) Somewhere in Germany is a baby Superman, born in Berlin with bulging arm and leg muscles.

Not yet 5, he can hold seven-pound weights with arms extended, something many adults cannot do. He has muscles twice the size of other kids his age and half their body fat.

DNA testing showed why: The boy has a genetic mutation that boosts muscle growth.

The discovery, reported in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine, represents the first documented human case of such a mutation.

Many scientists believe the find could eventually lead to drugs for treating people with muscular dystrophy and other muscle-destroying conditions. And athletes would almost surely want to get their hands on such a drug and use it like steroids to bulk up.

The boy's mutant DNA segment was found to block production of a protein called myostatin that limits muscle growth. The news comes seven years after researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore created buff "mighty mice" by "turning off" the gene that directs cells to produce myostatin.

"Now we can say that myostatin acts the same way in humans as in animals," said the boy's physician, Dr. Markus Schuelke, a professor in the child neurology department at Charite/University Medical Center Berlin. "We can apply that knowledge to humans, including trial therapies for muscular dystrophy."

Given the huge potential market for such drugs, researchers at universities and pharmaceutical companies already are trying to find a way to limit the amount and activity of myostatin in the body. Wyeth has just begun human tests of a genetically engineered antibody designed to neutralize myostatin.

Dr. Lou Kunkel, director of the genomics program at Boston Children's Hospital and professor of pediatrics and genetics at Harvard Medical School, said success is possible within several years.

"Just decreasing this protein by 20, 30, 50 percent can have a profound effect on muscle bulk," said Kunkel, who is among the doctors participating in the Wyeth research.

Muscular dystrophy is the world's most common genetic disease. There is no cure and the most common form, Duchenne's, usually kills before adulthood. The few treatments being tried to slow its progression have serious side effects.

Muscle wasting also is common in the elderly and patients with diseases such as cancer and AIDS.

"If you could find a way to block myostatin activity, you might slow the wasting process," said Dr. Se-Jin Lee, the Johns Hopkins professor whose team created the "mighty mice."

Lee said he believes a myostatin blocker also could suppress fat accumulation and thus thwart the development of diabetes. Lee and Johns Hopkins would receive royalties for any myostatin-blocking drug made by Wyeth.

Dr. Eric Hoffman, director of Children's National Medical Center's Research Center for Genetic Medicine, said he believes a muscular dystrophy cure will be found, but he is unsure whether it will be a myostatin-blocking drug, another treatment or a combination, because about a dozen genes have some effect on muscles.

He said a mystotatin-blocking drug could help other groups of people, including astronauts and others who lose muscle mass during long stints in zero gravity or when immobilized by illness or a broken limb.

Researchers would not disclose the German boy's identity but said he was born to a somewhat muscular mother, a 24-year-old former professional sprinter. Her brother and three other close male relatives all were unusually strong, with one of them a construction worker able to unload heavy curbstones by hand.

In the mother, one copy of the gene is mutated and the other is normal; the boy has two mutated copies. One almost definitely came from his father, but no information about him has been disclosed. The mutation is very rare in people.

The boy is healthy now, but doctors worry he could eventually suffer heart or other health problems.

In the past few years, scientists have seen great potential in myostatin-blocking strategies.

Internet marketers have been hawking "myostatin-blocking" supplements to bodybuilders, though doctors say the products are useless and perhaps dangerous.

Some researchers are trying to turn off the myostatin gene in chickens to produce more meat per bird. And several breeds of cattle have natural variations in the gene that, aided by selective breeding, give them far more muscle and less fat than other steer.

(© 2004 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. )[url][/url]

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06/24/04 08:09

Cirga

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This is profoundly interesting. It will be interesting to see the side effects from such growth.. mutant genes though. I would like to see some more on this reserach to see exactly what they find.

06/24/04 08:56

Asarin_Wilvanin

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Yeah, this was both interesting and scary. I just hope the he gets a normal life after this...

I would like to learn more about this, if its an evil curse or a heaven sendt blessing as the years go by.

06/24/04 10:51

Cuintar

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Thats definetly creepy, not sure what I want to think about it.

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06/24/04 11:49

Kandriel

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well now.... here's a something to use in the topic as to what powers are considered with the natural origin. not to be evil but i feel sorry for this kid.... he's goin to be nothing but a genetic experiment for the rest of his life no doubt. can you say tv movie based on a true story. interesting story though, of course this might take the mr. universe comps. to a new level.... gov. arnold is long gone.

"If i cared I'd send a card, "Dear Mickey, Happy Birthday. Love George." But I don't! Why? Don't give a s**t. No wonder nobody takes our country seriously. We celebrate the birthday of an imaginary rodent.

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06/24/04 12:46

Cirga

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It really isnt that surprising. Considering how many chemicals and medications we put in our body on a daily basis.. I can imagine the chromosome makeup within our own DNA occasionally being warped a bit due to these catalysts.

The future is full of limitless possibilities.. no telling what will occur.

06/24/04 14:40

Nihilistic_Poet

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QUOTE

here's a something to use in the topic as to what powers are considered with the natural origin.

If it wasn't stated in the article that this was a genetic mutation, I would agree with you.

I too feel very bad for the child. He's never going to have a normal life. But, as said in star trek, "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few... or the one... " :cry:

***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***

06/24/04 15:10

Kandriel

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well i was just showing an example of mutation and...that.....i .... i can't breath.....*passes out and falls face first on floor*

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06/24/04 15:12

Inhibitor

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For all you comics geeks out there:

Everyone's throwing the "Superman" connection around, but fans of the X-titles from Marvel may realize that this kid is an EXACT RL duplicate of a former member of X-Force.

Let's see; he's a super-strong mutant whose mutation promotes rampant, uncontrolled muscle tissue growth.

Does anyone remember "Strong Guy"?

Now THAT'S scary.

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06/24/04 17:27

Asarin_Wilvanin

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For all you comics geeks out there:

Everyone's throwing the \"Superman\" connection around, but fans of the X-titles from Marvel may realize that this kid is an EXACT RL duplicate of a former member of X-Force.

Let's see; he's a super-strong mutant whose mutation promotes rampant, uncontrolled muscle tissue growth.

Does anyone remember \"Strong Guy\"?

Now THAT'S scary.

oh my, you are right. I just totaly forgot that. (I've read some X, but long ago)

***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***

06/24/04 21:28

Cuintar

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I still have an old issue of X-Factor where my letter was published, but I was mostly an X-Men guy.

DJQuintar - Writer & DJ

06/25/04 07:55

KnightOfIce

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Ah, I believe there was also a Russian girl who claimed she had X-Ray vision, read it in an article posted on 8-Bit Theater. Doctors and scientists would perform tests and she would always get it right. Still don't know if it's a hoax or anything, never heard anything about it for awhile. Oh well, some more food for thought. Er..... wow, maybe in fifty years we WILL have brains who eat things.... Like Krang... I love Krang.

06/25/04 11:53

Asarin_Wilvanin

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[quote]Ah, I believe there was also a Russian girl who claimed she had X-Ray vision, read it in an article posted on 8-Bit Theater. Doctors and scientists would perform tests and she would always get it right. Still don't know if it's a hoax or anything, never heard anything about it for awhile. Oh well, some more food for thought. Er..... wow, maybe in fifty years we WILL have brains who eat things.... Like Krang... I love Krang.[/quote]

TEENAGE MUTANT HERO TURTLES! WHOOHOO!

Yeah, I saw some articles about her aswell. But I would still like some more proof. I smell something fishy (not you Sushi) when I havnt heard of her in a long while.

06/25/04 12:01

Pehrson

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http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_855907.html
http://www.sciscoop.com/story/2004/1/16/92336/0962
http://www.sciscoop.com/story/2004/1/28/18473/1983

this is about the russian girl.

Its a real freaky world we live in these days.

06/27/04 11:42

DangerGuy

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I don't think Strong Guy is an appropriate comparison to make here.

Strong guy would get more powerful based on the amount of energy he absorbed.

This kid is just plain strong.

~ Danger Guy

06/27/04 12:14

Asarin_Wilvanin

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Its like fiction is breaking out of the books we put em in..

***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***

06/27/04 15:08

Kandriel

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*stands with arms out in priest manner* and the powers that are of fantasy shall be bestowed upon mankind and chaos will rule all that which exists. repent and ye shall be saved.

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06/29/04 02:29

Asarin_Wilvanin

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X-men is trying to exist it our world....

Humans BEWARE! The mutants are comming.

06/29/04 03:28

Remy_Lebeau

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Oh, and what ya got against mutants asarin?

::Takes out a card and charges it:: 8)

06/29/04 03:33

Asarin_Wilvanin

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I'm just the messenger, cant kill the messenger.

06/29/04 03:34

Remy_Lebeau

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We be seein' about dat mon frere. :twisted:

Besides, I not wanna kill ya....

But maybe.... a lil pain. 8)

06/29/04 03:38

Asarin_Wilvanin

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"Haha, you cant do nothing to me."

*POFF*

*Asarin is gone*

06/29/04 03:44

Remy_Lebeau

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None of de work, but de same result, I like. :D

06/29/04 04:27

Asarin_Wilvanin

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*Asarin sneaks up on Remy_Lebeau and stabs him with a toy-dagger!*

06/29/04 04:41

Remy_Lebeau

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I feel embarrised for ya mon ami. :roll:

06/29/04 05:15

Remy_Lebeau

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I feel embarrised for ya mon ami. :D

::Starts having fight with plastic daggers with asarin::

But dat still dont mean I'm gonna turn down ya challenge! 8)

06/29/04 05:16

Asarin_Wilvanin

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TAKE THIS!

*stab*

AND THIS!

*stab*

AND FEAR MY COMBO!

*STAB STAB STAB STAB STAB*

06/29/04 06:03

Remy_Lebeau

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:Parries one, then another, and get struck in de shoulder by de final blow::

Ack, ya got me mon ami. :wink:

06/29/04 06:06

Asarin_Wilvanin

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No one escapes my combo.

Some nice moves you have there. One with such skill with a blade is no longer my foe (unless they turn that blade towards me of course).

06/29/04 08:17

ElDee

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Always better to be friends with people that are better with a toy dagger than you are. Never know when the real ones will be used ;)

06/29/04 08:26

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