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Gene Therapy Creates Strong Super-Rats

srstoneb writes "The AP is reporting about a gene therapy study in which muscle tissue in rats is modified to grow at an accelerated rate. The researchers are mainly interested in combating muscular dystrophy, but obviously there are other potential applications, both good and bad, for a treatment which makes you stronger. Athletic ethics are addressed in the article (it's in the sports section, after all), and rec.arts.comics.marvel.universe regular Tom Galloway -- who posted the link there, where I saw it -- made a comparison to the 'super-soldier serum' that created Captain America. Based on the article, a vaguely Wolverine-like healing factor is another benefit as the therapy allows faster recovery from injury. We already had a non-powered superhero reported last year. Who knows what the future may hold? ^_^" (And that's not the only natural-born superhero.)

44 of 414 comments (clear)

  1. Great, thats all we need... by myowntrueself · · Score: 5, Funny

    Rats with "vaguely Wolverine-like healing factor".

    Wonderful.

    I can see the pest control guys kitting up with miniguns and RPGs.

    --
    In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    1. Re:Great, thats all we need... by originalTMAN · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well, most of us have been training for this day for quite a while. I think the world will be safe.

    2. Re:Great, thats all we need... by Borg453b · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yes - I knew my l337 skillz would come to good use eventually. 'I frag purely to save the world and impress the chicks'

      --

      - Mad, ingenous - they've both left you puzzled -
  2. Almost too embarrassed to say but.... by nano2nd · · Score: 4, Funny

    I for one welcome our new mutant rat overlords.

    1. Re:Almost too embarrassed to say but.... by NanoGator · · Score: 2, Funny

      Why'd this get +5? Is there like a reference to Hitchhiker's Guide or Doctor Who that I'm missing?

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    2. Re:Almost too embarrassed to say but.... by alien_blueprint · · Score: 2, Funny

      If ever there was a time when the Overload joke is on topic, that was it... :)

      I was just thinking the same thing. At first glance, the first one should have been modded up (but perhaps not all the way to 5), and the rest modded down as "redundant." However, a straightforward application of this joke can't really be justifiably modded up anymore, even if giant ant overlords really were taking over. It's just not funny, informative, or insightful now.

      So in conclusion I suppose I'm saying that I for one welcome our new moderator overlords ...

    3. Re:Almost too embarrassed to say but.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Sorry, I wasn't clear enough in my original post. It should have been more like "in light of all the overuse of this joke, why was it..."

      It is official; Netcraft confirms: Welcoming our new Overlords is dying

      One more crippling bombshell hit the already beleaguered Overlord Welcoming community when IDC confirmed that Overlord Welcoming market share has dropped yet again, now down to less than a fraction of 1 percent of all +5 funny moderations. Coming on the heels of a recent Netcraft survey which plainly states that welcoming our new overlords has lost more market share, this news serves to reinforce what we've known all along. Welcoming our new overlords is collapsing in complete disarray, as fittingly exemplified by failing dead last in the recent Slashdot comprehensive moderation test.

      You don't need to be a Soviet Russian to predict Welcoming our new Overlords' future. The hand writing is on the wall: Welcoming our new Overlords faces a bleak future. In fact there won't be any future at all for Welcoming our new Overlords because Welcoming our new Overlords is dying. Things are looking very bad for Welcoming our new Overlords. As many of us are already aware, Welcoming our new Overlords continues to lose market share. Red ink flows like a river of blood.

      Welcoming our new Giant Rat Overlords is the most endangered of them all, having lost 93% of its core trolls. The sudden and unpleasant departures of long time New Overlord trolls Jordan Hubbard and Mike Smith only serve to underscore the point more clearly. There can no longer be any doubt: Welcoming our new Overlords is dying. All major surveys show that Welcoming our new Overlords has steadily declined in market share. Welcoming our new Overlords is very sick and its long term survival prospects are very dim. If Welcoming our new Overlords is to survive at all it will be among trolls rated at -1. Welcoming our new Overlords continues to decay. Nothing short of a miracle could save it at this point in time. For all practical purposes, Welcoming our new Overlords is dead.

      Fact: Welcoming our New Overlords is dying

    4. Re:Almost too embarrassed to say but.... by MP3Chuck · · Score: 4, Funny

      "You don't need to be a Soviet Russian to predict Welcoming our new Overlords' future."

      You mean to say that in Soviet Russia, new Overlords welcome me? I'm flattered...

  3. Someone will be happy by fullofangst · · Score: 3, Funny

    Good news for 'pro' wrestlers then!

    1. Re:Someone will be happy by jigyasubalak · · Score: 3, Funny

      Oh my god! I hope my wife doesn't hear about this.

      --
      The best planning can be done after the project completes.
  4. Splinter first, turtles later by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Progis Riport 1.

    Algernon kickd me in th nuts! It is sawr.

  5. Governator by filtur · · Score: 3, Funny
    Now the rats can run for Governor of California

    I'm sorry, I'll post something useful eventually!

    1. Re:Governator by sirius_bbr · · Score: 2, Funny

      Now the rats can run for Governor of California

      Informative???

      That's even funier than the comment itself :)

      --
      this sig has intentionally been left blank
  6. Dateline 2020... by heironymouscoward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Superrat "Mitee Mus" runs for governor of the Democratic Republic of California, winning 63% of the votes. Standing 7'3" tall, weighing 120kg and gifted with an IQ of 192, Mitee Mus told reporters "Now I can get to the real business of building nice warm nests for every Californian". He is married to the cousin of a Kennedy.

    --
    Ceci n'est pas une signature
    1. Re:Dateline 2020... by radicalskeptic · · Score: 2, Funny

      Wow, for some reason I can't help but be reminded of FATMOUSE

      Yeah, I know, it's... weird...

      --
      WARNING: If accidentally read, induce vomiting.
    2. Re:Dateline 2020... by heironymouscoward · · Score: 2, Funny

      With full automation of the USPTO, planned in 2005, patents will be issued directly to pre-approved parties without the tedious business of examination. This will allow the USPTO to increase its turnover by 5000% and will reach the 10bn mark in late 2007. The pre-approval process will also be streamlined so that a single large contribution to the political party in power suffices to purchase bulk patents.
      Breath now while it's still Free!

      --
      Ceci n'est pas une signature
    3. Re:Dateline 2020... by Imperator · · Score: 2, Funny

      When you win an election in a "democratic republic", you win with 100% of the vote, or 99% if you're feeling magnanimous.

      --

      Gates' Law: Every 18 months, the speed of software halves.
  7. I'm all for it... by Arcanix · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is the only way we'll be able to compete in hand to hand combat with the robots that we'll assuredly create and be forced to fight against in the near future.

    1. Re:I'm all for it... by slimsam1 · · Score: 3, Funny

      I'm all for it too, as long as they don't pull a "Hulk" and start jumping from state to state... those NY rats are too rude for Texas.

      --
      ...
    2. Re:I'm all for it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      ...and the Texas rats are too stupid for NY!

    3. Re:I'm all for it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
      those NY rats are too rude for Texas

      Ah yes, but I'm sure we'd be glad to have those mutant super-rats; they'd make for some mighty fine barbeque!

  8. Super-rat eh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Who'd win? Super Rat, or this? ;)

  9. rec.arts.comics.marvel.universe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    You mean the usenet is still used for things besides spam, porn, and warez??? I can't believe it.

  10. It's Mighty Mouse!!! by Shaheen · · Score: 3, Funny

    Enough said

    --
    You should never take life too seriously - You'll never get out of it alive.
  11. Turtles? by SJ · · Score: 5, Funny

    Great, we have the rat... now we just need some turtles.

  12. Re:New Steroids by richie2000 · · Score: 2, Funny
    Royally Every Time Someone Eats A Radish, Carrot, Hors d'oeuvre

    Live Easy And Read News To Ossify Slowly, People. Eliza Lives and Learns. Retsearch, indeed...

    --
    Money for nothing, pix for free
  13. gene therapy... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    makes you stronger. strength crushes enemies. gene therapy! gene therapy! gene therapy!

  14. R.O.U.S.'es? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Rodents of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist.

  15. Re:Hrmm by kinnell · · Score: 2, Funny
    Isn't something like this in the "startrek" universe?

    Good God, you're right! This proves beyond a doubt that Star Trek is an accurate portrayal of the future, and not just a mere work of fiction.

    --
    If I seem short sighted, it is because I stand on the shoulders of midgets
  16. Re:Hrmm by Savage-Rabbit · · Score: 4, Funny

    " ... Eugenics war ... "

    That is the least of our worries!!! PRAY that your grandchildren will NOT have a neat little inscription behind their right ear that reads.

    "DNA Encoded by Microsoft (c)."

    --
    Only to idiots, are orders laws.
    -- Henning von Tresckow
  17. Ultimate Super Hero International Team! by SoupIsGood+Food · · Score: 4, Funny

    I will assmeble the ultimate real-life superhero team to Save the Universe! It will be called the Ultimate Super Hero International Team! The roster is carefully chosen to represent the most gifted and talented real-life adventurers from across the globe!

    On it will be the daring leader and Weapons Expert, Angle Grinder Man! (Linked to above.) Also...

    Aerospace Expert: Lawn Chair Larry!

    Science and Technology Expert: Troy Hurtubise, inventor of the famous Bear Proof Suit! (Tested by real bikers! And bears! It's bear and biker proof!)

    Matter Eating Expert: Sonya Thomas, the Black Widow!

    Sneaking Across the Country Naked Expert: Steven Gough!

    With these mighty heroes, the Ultimate Super Hero International Team, the Universe shall be Saved!

    SoupIsGood Food

    1. Re:Ultimate Super Hero International Team! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Only trouble would be that their acronym would be U SHIT

  18. Karma-whores, save your mirrors by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The Super-Server man is here! I've already beefed up the server's backbone and hardware, so the site should not suffer from any problems.

    Don't thank me, it's all in a days work.

    Posted anonymously to retain my secret identity.

  19. Gene Therapy Schmene Therapy by Symbiosis · · Score: 2, Funny

    We've got a race of super-rats living in the back alley. They're about 3-feet long, and heckle us with merciless honesty about our most sensitive insecurities...

    --

    -------------------------------------------
    I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells.
    -- Dr. Seuss
  20. Re:This is going to be a trip! by Penguinshit · · Score: 4, Funny


    Darl McBride is a Russian boxer?

  21. Re:Hrmm by radja · · Score: 4, Funny

    at least they'll have blue eyes then.. or at least occasionally..

    --

    No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness.
    --Sheikh Abd-Al-Kadir, 1587
  22. Re:One question not adressed by the article. by Zog+The+Undeniable · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, because it has no muscles, but I'm sure that won't put off the spammers.

    --
    When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
  23. Reminds me of an old joke... by Open_The_Box · · Score: 2, Funny

    A traveling salesman stops by a farm and in the process of trying to sell his wares becomes aware of something strange out in the yard. It's a tiny newborn chick - with eight legs.

    The farmer notices him staring and decides to explain. The idea is that when people buy a chicken, everyone wants a leg but since there are only two legs someone always misses out. So, what the farmer has done is to breed chickens with more legs.

    The salesman leaves shaking his head and doesn't think any more about it, until two years later he's in the same area and decides to go back to the farm. When he gets there he sees the farm is in disrepair, overrun with eight-legged chickens and the farmer looks starved and poor.

    "What's happened?" asks the salesman. "The last time I was here you looked like you were onto a good thing breeding eight-legged chickens."

    "Ah," replies the farmer, "the breeding program was a great success. The problem is we can't catch them!"

    --
    If you can't think of something nice to say then don't say anything at all. No, REALLY.
  24. "Non Powered Super Hero"...? by CBDSteve · · Score: 2, Funny

    Erm - sorry, but I believe that link refers to the infamous Monkey Man of Tunbridge Wells.

    Is it a bird?
    Is it a plane?

    No, it's a prank from B3ta. :-)

  25. Douglas Adams was right by verrol · · Score: 3, Funny

    Those rats do run things. they are manipulating us to make them stronger so then can take over.

  26. Obligatory SNL transcript... by Cyno01 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Dennis Miller: In response to what its sponsors claim is an idea whose time has come, the first All-Drug Olympics opened today in Bogota, Columbia. Athletes are allowed to take any substance whatsoever before, after, and even during the competition. So far, 115 world records have been shattered! We go now to correspondent Kevin Nealon, live in Bogota for the Weightlifting Finals. Kevin?

    Kevin Nealon: Dennis, getting ready to lift now is Sergei Akmudov of the Soviet Union. His trainer has told me that he's taken antibolic steroids, Novacaine, Nyquil, Darvon, and some sort of fish paralyzer. Also, I believe he's had a few cocktails within the last hour or so. All of this is, of course, perfectly legal at the All-Drug Olympics, in fact it's encouraged. Akmudov is getting set now, he's going for a cleaning jerk of over 1500 pounds, which would triple the existing world record. That's an awful lot of weight, Dennis, and here he goes.

    [ Kevin steps aside to reveal the steroid-bulked athlete bent over to lift the 1500 lbs. weight. Sergei tightens his grip on the barbells and pulls up, but instead of lifting the weights, his arms are pulled off and blood squirts ferociously out of his pulpy stubs. ]

    Kevin Nealon: Oh! He pulled his arms off! He's pulled his arms off, that's gotta be disappointing to the big Russian! [ Sergei's trainer wraps a towel around him ] You know, you hate to see something like this happen, Dennis! He probably doesn't have that much pain right now, but I think tomorrow he's really gonna feel that, Dennis! Back to you!

    Dennis Miller: Thank you, Kevin. Very nice form on the Russian. Canada, of course, is leading that competition.

    credit

    --
    "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
  27. Cue new series.. X-Animaniacs? by Channard · · Score: 5, Funny

    'What do we do tonight, Brain?'

    'That's Magneto, damn you! And we do the same thing we do ever night, Pinky.. try to take over the world with our rodent superpowers! And how many times do I have to tell you? Stop licking off that blue body paint!'

  28. Pre-Caffiene headline.... by Dawn+Keyhotie · · Score: 2, Funny
    Reads "Game Therapy Creates Super-Strong Rats".

    I instantly pictured a room full of lab rats directly wired into various X-Box and PS2 consoles, honing their FPS/fragging skills, and getting ready to take over the world. But then I remembered that Super-Strong Rats, or SSRs, are intelligent and friendly, just like in "The Secret of NIMH".

    So I am no longer worried about our new SSR overlords.

    CHeers!

    --
    "The only good windmill is a tilted windmill."
  29. Yay! Can't wait for the spam! by Kiyooka · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wonder which "muscle" they'll claim to enlarge as a side effect.