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Energizer Mouse

Posted by michael on from the duracell-cat dept.

jmoriarty writes "CNN reports about a group of researchers who can convert "fast-twitch" muscle fibers to "slow-twitch" muscles in mice. This essentially trades strength for endurance, and has potential to treat degenerative muscle diseases in humans down the road."

21 comments

  1. so by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    how long will it be before they try and market this as a competitor for viagra and the RIAA gets congress to make it illegal?

  2. I need this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When will it be available in pill form? See you in the Boston Marathon!

  3. hmm... by questionlp · · Score: 1

    Does that mean that we will get cordless optical (aka: balless) mice (the input device, not the rodentia) that will go forever without a recharge?

  4. In reverse? by Jonny+290 · · Score: 2

    This is very, very cool.

    But the real fun begins when they learn how to do the reverse - convert endurance into strength.

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  5. Local effect? by therealmoose · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The thought of trading strength for endurance (and vis versa), is very interesting but I suspect that the balance in humans is pretty much optimal for general use. What's intriging to me is that the effect seems to be a local thing. Wanna be a soldier? How about cranking the upper body to strength and the lower to endurance? Geek? Turn the right arm to endurance. The possibilities are endless!

    1. Re:Local effect? by flewp · · Score: 2

      I hope you don't mean what I think you mean with the right arm endurance thing.... Nah, nevermind, a geek couldn't last more than 5 minutes.

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    2. Re:Local effect? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Huh? The balance in humans is optimal? That's such a general statement that I don't even know if that means anything. Did you know that the distribution of fast/slow twitch fibers in humans varies from 20-80 to about 80-20 (controlled chiefly by genetics.. so this is a breakthrough (against Mother Nature ;) )

  6. What to do about fat? by coene · · Score: 2

    What America really needs is a pill to turn fat into .. well.. anything else!

    1. Re:What to do about fat? by Radi-0-head · · Score: 2, Insightful
      What America really needs is people who understand that if you eat at McDonald's 5 times a week and don't exercise, you will likely turn into a fat ass.


      It has been said a million times already... there is no substitute for proper diet and exercise -- and if there is at some point, I still won't use it. I'd rather have sore limbs from jogging than watch my dick fall off as a side effect of the latest trendy pill. Ugh.

    2. Re:What to do about fat? by keller · · Score: 1

      Sure, but what happens when those 200+pounds of excess fat is converted into muscle, and muscle spasms occur...

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    3. Re:What to do about fat? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Suit yourself. Personally I visit a private clinic once a year and have my fat transmuted into subclutaneous gold....

    4. Re:What to do about fat? by coene · · Score: 2

      You take a Muscle-To-Jello Pill!

  7. One problem with them.. by BlackCobra43 · · Score: 1

    they keep going,and going,and going....

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  8. atheletes by littlerubberfeet · · Score: 2, Interesting

    fast-twitch strength muscles take far less time to develop then slow-twitch ones. training for endurance takes a lot longer then strength training. So, how long until atheletes weight-train, then convert their muscle fibre and run marithons?

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  9. Good for rock climbing and kayaking too! by maddogsparky · · Score: 1

    Both are upper body sports that require endurance to be very good at.

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  10. Steve Irwin's in trouble... by ptbrown · · Score: 2

    So, can we do this to crocodiles too?

    Okay, so they'll only be able to bite with ~80-100 lbs/sq.in. That's still a lot. And the only advantage humans have ever had over crocs is endurance. You give this stuff to a croc and it's.... well, you know what that wacky Aussie would say.

    aside: hrmm... there's now "what's this" links on the submission form. Since when did /. start pandering to lusers?

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  11. This might help by brejc8 · · Score: 2

    My computer keeps crashing and this might help it stay "running" for longer.

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  12. What to do about heat? by yerricde · · Score: 1

    It has been said a million times already... there is no substitute for proper diet and exercise

    I try to eat right, but my body's cooling system won't really let me go outside and exercise when it's 90F (32C) or hotter out, and I don't have the ca$h for a health club membership.

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  13. I s this news? by vidnet · · Score: 1
    Maybe the mouse is, but we all know the Energizer Bunny!

  14. Of course if you read further. by Guru1 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You would find out that they were breeding the mice with the new muscle materials. They don't seem to have found a way to actually put this into an existing animal and change it's muscle concentration. So sure, they can breed long distance runners, but they can't make a sprinter into one.

  15. Just do it by dark-br · · Score: 1
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