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Author Topic:   Gorilla strength
Silverback
Inactive Junior Member


Message 256 of 287 (466860)
05-17-2008 3:07 PM


Hi all.
Couple of days ago i saw this topic when i was "googling" "Gorilla strength", and found it very interesting.
I have studied Mountain Gorillas intensivley for the last year, in hope of someday having the honor of working with them.
Anyway, i have done a very short studie on how you can messure a Gorillas strength compered to us, and will post it here (if you whant the entire study just tell me)
quote:
“It's also to do with that fact that their muscles work around five to seven times more efficiently than ours. Studies of human and other primates' jaw muscles show that our muscle fibres are far smaller and weaker than those of our cousins - roughly an eighth the size of those seen in macaques (small Primates), for example.
The reasons for this remain poorly understood, but one contributing factor is the genes that encode myosin, the protein fibres from which muscles are made. Comparison of human and ape sequences for a myosin gene called MYH16 show that all humans have a mutant version of this gene.
Some have even credited the more diminutive muscles in human jaws for our larger intelligence. One theory says that these smaller muscles gave our skulls the room to grow rounder, allowing for a bigger brain cavity” [3]
Basically, this means that a Gorilla is five to seven times stronger than us times its size compared to us.
For example, if you weigh 150 pounds (70 kg) then a Gorilla should be 5-7*3=15-21 times stronger than you.
Though this way of measuring their strength is highly questionable, there is little doubt that they are far, far stronger than any man.
(yes english is not my first language)
Few reasons why i think the Gorilla is so much, and note where i say much stronger than other animals of equal size, like Lions and Grizzlys is mainly because of their limb/muscular attachment and muscle effectiveness (reduced myosin), rather than just muscle mass
Edited by Silverback, : Typo
Edited by Silverback, : Typo again

  
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