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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."

10 of 21 comments (clear)

  1. 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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  2. 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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  3. 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 coene · · Score: 2

      You take a Muscle-To-Jello Pill!

  4. 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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  5. 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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  6. This might help by brejc8 · · Score: 2

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

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  7. 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.