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How A "Superbaby" Is Helping To Find Muscular Dystrophy Treatments
An anonymous reader writes to tell us that a baby boy with unusually big muscles — caused by a gene mutation — is helping scientists to discover new muscular dystrophy drugs. "Myostatin was discovered in mice in 1992 in Lee's Johns Hopkins lab. In 1996 he proved its importance by showing that mice without the myostatin-producing gene got twice as big. The next year he discovered that the bulging Belgian Blue cow was a myostatin mutant, the first of eight prized cattle breeds later found to have the mutation. The company he had co-founded, MetaMorphix, is working on manipulating myostatin to beef up livestock. Wyeth picked up the rights to develop a drug for humans. Its experimental antibody drug produced bulked-up mice in 2002, and results of a trial in adults with muscular dystrophy are expected as early as March."
This is actually pretty cool. I have a step-mother and a half-brother with muscular distrophy.
It won't be a silver bullet, though. His disability is so bad that he's never been able to talk, much less walk on his own. Some of his joints have essentially locked up due to disuse. Even if the treatment were available today, he'd still have to learn how to talk. He might even need knee-replacement surgery before he could start learning to walk.
At least he'd be able to feed himself, though.
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I have an offshoot of muscular dystrophy. Any progress towards a cure brings me that much closer to being able to perform regular physical activities and... you know..not being guaranteed to die way earlier than anyone should. I've been following this possible cure since the tests in mice and I think it shows great promise. It's sad that it is already too late for many people (in fact, it may be too late for even myself before this cure is commercialized..my strength already wanes) but I'm just happy that there is a chance that others won't have to live my pain.
I never spellcheck and I freely admit it. Save your karma for more worthwhile "lol erorrs" replies
Get back to me when men aren't interested in breasts.
That being said, I would say around 3-4 generations (90 - 120 years). There was once a time when a full figured woman with curves was 'attractive'. It showed you were child bearing and rich (since food wasn't as easy to come by.) In most cultures it still is in. It just seems to be in 1st world countries that 'thin is in'.
Breasts however... are still in.