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Gene Therapy Creates Strong Super-Rats

Posted by timothy on from the pizza-with-nietzsche-cheese-please dept.

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.)

14 of 414 comments (clear)

  1. Super Rats \o/ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    I for one welcome our Super Rat overlords.

  2. ...Ratman by derphilipp · · Score: 0, Redundant

    The new superhero:
    Superrat
    He lives in the sewers, fights evil crocodile-ninjas.

    And his only weakness is his secret addiction to cheese.

    Master Splinter ? (Turtles)

    --
    Spelling mistakes: My is english spoken not tongue of mother.
  3. Cowabunga dudes!....I smell a rat! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Does this remind anybody of Splinter from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

  4. Really? by Arcanix · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I don't.

  5. Gene therapy? Super-beings? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    In related news, an Indian named Khan Singh has spoken out in favor of the new genetic enhancements, volunteering himself and his friends as the first test-subjects.

    1. Re:Gene therapy? Super-beings? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

      KHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!

      (im really drunk)

      I've done more than kill you. I've hurt you. And I wish to go on...hurting you. I shall leave you as you left me. As you left her. Marooned for all eternity in the center of a dead planet. Buried alive... Buried alive... Buried alive..." -- Khannnnnnn

  6. And, I for one ... by alien_blueprint · · Score: -1, Redundant

    ... do not welcome our template joke instantiating overlords!

    Oh, wait, that's me now as well :( Anyway, I predict this story will set some sort of record for invocation of this template.

  7. Let Me Be The First... by ferrellcat · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Let me be the first to welcome our new rat overlords. BTW, do they have lasers coming out of their heads yet?

  8. It had to be said... by foidulus · · Score: 0, Redundant

    It Soviet Russia, rat genetically modifies you!

  9. I for one.... by SiliconAddict · · Score: 1, Redundant

    I, for one, welcome our new super strong rat overlords

  10. Re:Super Strong Frosty Piss by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Tyr teh nwe Gen e Threapy to incraese your pneis size.

  11. I, for one... by Fizzl · · Score: -1, Redundant

    You know the drill.

    --
    Bot Assisted Blogging
  12. Re:Great, thats all we need... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    I for one welcome our new Rat over lords.

  13. KHAAAAAAAAAAN! by invid · · Score: 0, Redundant

    It had to be said.

    --
    The Moore-Murphy Law: The number of things that will go wrong will double every 2 years.