Monster Cows: Belgian Blue Cattle, 80% meat

Originated in the early 1900’s Farmer’s selectively bred for the “double muscled” appearance, and from the 1960’s on genetic selection techniques enhanced the trait. A carcass can be up to 80% meat. They are so muscled they often cannont give birth without C-Section. What trait? Do they have crazy exercise? Well that helps with the tone, however they have a defective myostatin gene. They’re growth supressor is inhibited. So nothing keeps them from growing. What kinds of disease could we use this genetic mutation to treat?

Dissections comparing normal, heterozygous, and homozygous mice

Myostatin A growth factor (hormone) that surpresses muscle growth. –Slows down development of muscle stem cells In 2002, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania showed that monoclonal antibody specific to myostatin improves the condition of mice with muscular dystrophy, presumably by blocking myostatin's action.

The number of fibers is probably fixed early in life. This is regulated by myostatin, a cytokine that is synthesized in muscle cells (and circulates as a hormone later in life). Myostatin suppresses skeletal muscle development. Cattle and mice with inactivating mutations in their myostatin genes develop much larger muscles. Some athletes and other remarkably strong people have been found to carry one mutant myostatin gene. These discoveries have already led to the growth of an illicit market in drugs supposedly able to suppress myostatin. However these are only fake drugs so far.myostatin In adults, increased strength and muscle mass comes about through an increase in the thickness of the individual fibers and increase in the amount of connective tissue. In the mouse, at least, fibers increase in size by attracting more myoblasts to fuse with them.

Carl Lewis Ran 100 m in 9.86s –1991 world record –Jumps over cars –9 Gold Medals Excellent example of Type II fast twitch muscle Also a vegan Outspoken, even damning of those who used performance enhancers. –Like Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson Between 1968 and 1983 the 100m record was shaved by 0.04s In one year Johnson beat it by 0.16s 1988 Seoul Olympics –Johnson: 9.76 s –27 mph –45 strides –Ahead the whole time –Lewis sets an American record with 9.92s, but still second Busted for doping

Back to Carl Lewis Johnson’s medal revoked and given to Lewis 5 years later in 2003 Lewis admits he was busted 3 times in 1988 for banned stimulants. –He “thought they were herbal supplements” –The U.S. Olympic committee found his ingestion to be, “inadvertant” –Since it was after the 3 year statute of limitations he could keep his medals –Stimulants could have masked more serious steroids from tests Johnson beating Lewis in ‘88

Which leads to the question how do steroids work? Androgenic: increasing masculine traits Anabolic: building muscles as opposed to Catabolic: breaking down nutrients

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