http://gizmodo.com/gene-edited-dogs-with-jacked-up-muscles-are-a-worlds-fi-1
737545538
Researchers in China are reportedly the first to use a powerful gene editing
tool to produce super-muscled dogs. The goal is to create test subjects that
mimic degenerative human diseases, but the breakthrough also raises the
prospect of customized pets.
A cheap and powerful gene editing technique called CRISPR is taking the
science world by storm. Over the past year, biologists have used the genetic
cut-and-paste tool to genetically modify human embryos, produce supersized
fruit, and create double-muscled pigs and micropigs. Other animals involved
in CRISPR work include goats, rabbits, and monkeys.
Now, as Technology Review reports, scientists in China have used CRISPR to
knock out the myostatin gene (MSTN) in beagles, which roughly doubles their
muscle mass. The details of this work can now be found at the Journal of
Molecular Cell Biology.
. . .
Comment: Hmm. At 14 or so I was a skinny kid with little muscle mass. In
high school instead of gym I was sent to the corrective class. I couldn't
afford to buy regular weights but found an old piece of Iron that weighed 73
pounds and worked out with that every day. I gained muscle mass, made the
gymnastics team and lettered in the vault. However I only weighed 155
pounds when I entered the Marine Corps at age 17. When I got out of the
USMC I weighed 165 pounds. In my late 20s I worked out heavily with weights
for 3 years and ended up with considerably more muscle mass and weighed 187
pounds.
So if the technology described in the article were available would I have
wanted to get the "more-muscle-mass" treatment? My first reaction is "yes."
And after thinking it over I say "hell yes." But I feel a little
uncomfortable with that decision and require the aid of a philosopher. What
of all the "character-building" hours I spent working out with weights?
Would I have done something equally valuable if I didn't have to work-out to
gain muscle mass? Or would I have worked out and gained even more muscle
mass and instead of 187 pounds at age 30 been 225. I'm 5'10 and though I
have gotten out of shape from time to time over the years have never weighed
as much as 200 pounds.
With more time on my hands nowadays I've started another serious workout
program. The fat to muscle ratio of my 187 pounds isn't quite what it
ought to be and I'm hoping to trim down to about 175 pounds eventually. In
other words at age 81 I don't want more muscle mass. Would I have wanted it
back when I was in my 20s? Probably, but I might have regretted it by now.
But a more muscular dog sounds pretty interesting. My 110 pound Rhodesian
Ridgeback Ben is well enough muscled. But check the muscles on the Whippet
in this article:
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/542616/first-gene-edited-dogs-reported-
in-china/
Lawrence
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