A collaboration between researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and two Swiss institutions, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the University of Lausanne, has revealed a fascinating and ground-breaking new discovery: the tiny inhibitor responsible for determining muscle strength. By manipulating the genome regulator NCor1 and suppressing the newly-discovered inhibitor, the scientists have created a strain of superhero-like mice that are capable of running twice as fast, twice as long, and with muscles that are twice as strong. Plus, a higher cold tolerance was exhibited. So far, no harmful side effects have been detected, and the researchers are well on their way to confirming the effects of this new break through in humans.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Mighty Mice: Tweaking a Gene to Make Muscles Twice as Strong
A collaboration between researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and two Swiss institutions, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the University of Lausanne, has revealed a fascinating and ground-breaking new discovery: the tiny inhibitor responsible for determining muscle strength. By manipulating the genome regulator NCor1 and suppressing the newly-discovered inhibitor, the scientists have created a strain of superhero-like mice that are capable of running twice as fast, twice as long, and with muscles that are twice as strong. Plus, a higher cold tolerance was exhibited. So far, no harmful side effects have been detected, and the researchers are well on their way to confirming the effects of this new break through in humans.
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This is amazing that they were able to manipulate a genome regulator to increase their strength without having any harmful effects. Usually in scenarios like this, there is always a downside. If there truly are not negative effects and this can be replicated in humans, then this could mean big things for humanity.
ReplyDeleteIf breakthroughs like this could be applied to humans, it would be interesting to see the impact that genetically altering people would have on society...how would it effect crime rates, sports performances, job perfomance, etc
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