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Author Topic:   New Human Mutation
custard
Inactive Member


Message 2 of 12 (118806)
06-25-2004 7:14 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Loudmouth
06-25-2004 4:47 PM


Yeah, this article looked pretty interesting, but I wonder how much media-hype is involved here?
Two parts of the article I found interesting:
quote:
In the mother, one copy of the gene is mutated and the other is normal; the boy has two mutated copies. One almost definitely came from his father, but no information about him has been disclosed. The mutation is very rare in people.
The boy is healthy now, but doctors worry he could eventually suffer heart or other health problems.
I suppose only time will tell if this mutations has no ill effects, but if it doesn't, how will this affect that old creationist argument? The one that goes:
"We have never witnessed a mutation that was beneficial to the organism..."
I also wonder if he is really the first person to have this mutation. From the article it appears his mother and father both have a copy of the mutated gene; he has two copies. It's possible he's not unique (which goes back to my media hype question), even the article refers to the mutation as 'rare,' not unique.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Loudmouth, posted 06-25-2004 4:47 PM Loudmouth has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Loudmouth, posted 06-25-2004 7:20 PM custard has replied

  
custard
Inactive Member


Message 4 of 12 (118815)
06-25-2004 7:26 PM
Reply to: Message 3 by Loudmouth
06-25-2004 7:20 PM


Right. I read the 'documented' part and it still didn't register. Duh.
Population study would be very interesting. I wonder if the mutation is dominant?
True, the mutation may not end up being beneficial, but it appears that this kid's uncles are uncommonly strong as well - of course who knows if that is just an unqualified observation by the journalist - so maybe one copy of the mutation would be beneficial on its own.
If, ultimately, this does turn out not to have any negative side effects (like Marfan's Syndrome say), then how long do you think it will be before we see genetic tinkering for prospective athletes? Why mess with HGH when you can change the genes themselves.
Very interesting stuff.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by Loudmouth, posted 06-25-2004 7:20 PM Loudmouth has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 5 by jar, posted 06-25-2004 7:31 PM custard has not replied
 Message 6 by Loudmouth, posted 06-25-2004 7:34 PM custard has replied

  
custard
Inactive Member


Message 7 of 12 (118858)
06-25-2004 8:23 PM
Reply to: Message 6 by Loudmouth
06-25-2004 7:34 PM


1. Produce a chemical that destroys endogenous myostatin.
Interesting. Do you know if this would work if an adult began taking this type of chemical? Or does it only work at a certain point in the organism's development?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 6 by Loudmouth, posted 06-25-2004 7:34 PM Loudmouth has replied

Replies to this message:
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