Super Mutation

I read about it yesterday. Well, I think we should wait and see how healthy he will stay, before moving into genetically engineer people.

omg he could become a super hero! He could call himself Aryan Man!

I wont be impressed until some kid shoots light beams out of his eyes.

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Original post by KevinG I wont be impressed until some kid shoots light beams out of his eyes.

Sadly I agree...

I don't know, I still like Batman more.

Seriously though, it's probably not very healthy to be filling out with muscles a ton, I mean, that gene that prevents that is probably there for a good reason.

Wow. That kid must have to eat like a horse to keep that kind of muscle mass.

Interesting.

I prefer to get scientific news from scientific sources though.

NewScientist.com - "Mighty mouse" gene found in humans

What is most interesting is that this is the first medically unenhanced instance of this happening to a human that has been recorded. It's been seen in mice but never in humans, which is rather a stroke of luck because we have a very robust and ever-expanding knowledge base and medical field, which is wonderful for when things like this come along. If a documented or even undocumented case like this were to appear even 50 years ago, he would be touted around cities and town fairs as the worlds strongest child. It's great to see that perhaps by studying his muscle growth, we (as humans) can learn to create therapy or even cures for muscle diseases such a muscular distrophy.

Assuming he grows to a reasonably normal size without significant health problems, what would be the implications for competitive sports? With proper training he could likely break many world olympic records, or become an extremely effective wrestler/boxer/etc..

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Original post by haro Assuming he grows to a reasonably normal size without significant health problems, what would be the implications for competitive sports? With proper training he could likely break many world olympic records, or become an extremely effective wrestler/boxer/etc..

Since his mutation is known, its possible they could pull out a clause to reject him from official high level competitions... I heard that russia used to employ some genetically different women (some sexual chromosome syndrome), which were much stronger than average, for the olympics... And eventually, those were denied, and allowed only to participate in special olympics.

Wrestling and boxing probably don't apply such restrictions, but then those sports don't rely strictly on physical strength either.

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Original post by Max_Payne Wrestling and boxing probably don't apply such restrictions, but then those sports don't rely strictly on physical strength either.

Aye, it was why I stated with proper training. I wrestled for several years myself. Given two people of relatively similiar skill, if one is anywhere near twice as strong as the other - he will almost undoubtedly win.

It seems like it would be extremely discriminatory to forbid an individual from playing based on genetics.

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Original post by haro It seems like it would be extremely discriminatory to forbid an individual from playing based on genetics.

If it's a natural mutation, yes, it would be unethical to exclude those people from various sports.
But if it is an artificial mutation, designed to greatly increase the chances of that individual to win, I think it would be discriminatory for the OTHERS (the normal people) to let that person participate.

I hate to say this guys, but this kid will likely die at an early age. Apparently the heart grows very big and the stress on it causes it to fail or something. There's a reason this mutation hasn't been successful in the past, and there's a reason why normal people have normal amounts of the protein myostatin.

Are we not the supermen
Aryan pure supermen
Ja we ist der supermen
Super-duper supermen
Ist this Nutzi land not good?
Would you leave it if you could?
Ja this Nutzi land is good!
Vee would leave it if we could

He must be the reincarnation of Hitler.

The Hitlar Returns!

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Original post by alnite He must be the reincarnation of Hitler. The Hitlar Returns!

a strong german todler... IT MUST BE TEH HITLAR!!!
...
(i know you were joking)

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Original post by Tron3k I hate to say this guys, but this kid will likely die at an early age. Apparently the heart grows very big and the stress on it causes it to fail or something. There's a reason this mutation hasn't been successful in the past, and there's a reason why normal people have normal amounts of the protein myostatin.

Normal people? He is normal. He is all-natural. He's just different. He's not like you or me.

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Original post by Onikan Quote: Original post by Tron3k I hate to say this guys, but this kid will likely die at an early age. Apparently the heart grows very big and the stress on it causes it to fail or something. There's a reason this mutation hasn't been successful in the past, and there's a reason why normal people have normal amounts of the protein myostatin. Normal people? He is normal. He is all-natural. He's just different. He's not like you or me.

i think he means that if this were truly a benefit and added to our fitness as a species, we'd be seeing more of it and it would most likely be very present. and no he isn't normal, he technically is a mutant.

now if only we could figure out the "smart" gene we'd be set. but what would the world do full of super strong super smart people? who would work at McDonalds? Who would carry away our garbage?

with perfection in sight what new level do we strive for?