Genuine superhero

**Liffguard** · Posted On: 6/02/2007 10:07am

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...30?hub=Health#

This kid has been born with a rare genetic disorder (myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy) that gives him 40% more muscle mass than normal and minimal bodyfat. Furthermore, there appear to be no negative side affects. The disorder only affects skeletal muscle and not cardiac muscle. The only potential downside appears to be a possibility of neurological development disorders due to insufficient bodyfat.

Seriously, is this cool or what?

**Jhemsley** · Posted On: 6/02/2007 11:22am

OK, why is this called a disorder?

That's like saying Angelina Jolie's excessive beauty is a genetic disorder.

**Odacon** · Posted On: 6/02/2007 11:27am

If I recall a girl from eastern europe had a similar gift. Next stage in evolution?

**Nid** · Posted On: 6/02/2007 11:32am

There's usually trade-offs.

Interesting to see how long he'll live etc.

**bob** · Posted On: 6/02/2007 8:29pm

I think I heard about this kid. Apparently he only ever has to work a particular muscle once or twice and he gets that strength gain permanently. His muscles never atrophy.

**SFGOON** · Posted On: 6/02/2007 8:46pm

Only a fucking Canadian paper would refer to that as a "disorder."

Just wait till mum sees her grocery bill, though.

**Res Judicata** · Posted On: 6/03/2007 12:59am

It would be a disorder in nature. It's only really useful in a modern, well-fed society. If a famine hit, he'd be dead very fast because his body couldn't catabolize his muscles (which both provides energy and reduces the amount of energy needed per day). Same goes for the minimal fat stores -- those are your body's emergency reserves. In the modern (well, modernized) world, lack of food isn't really much of a problem. But historically (and in not yet modernized places), famine was a big problem.

Former professional body builder Flex Wheeler has a similar mutation.

**Knave** · Posted On: 6/03/2007 3:10am

Greetings.

Actually, the kid is quite underweight for his age even living in a time/country/household that can feed his crazy metabolism. This is like assuming a genetic mutation that gave a kid unrestricted brain growth would necessarily make him the smartest man alive. It's possible, but it's also possible his massive brain could be damaged by the lack of oxygen being pumped in through his non-adapted circulatory system.

**GIJoe6186** · Posted On: 6/03/2007 3:50am

Its a disorder because its not normal and going to cause complications in his future. His growth will be stunted for one thing. He will have lots of muscle but be small in height. Also, the amount of food he needs is enormous. The early years where his body (and brain) are developing will be damaged if he is not fed enough, which probably means they will have to overfeed him. He just burns calories too fast and it will affect his brain growth.

Also, as stated before, the next stage in evolution would be enabling us to get by during famine, with less food, not by making us eat more and hindering growth.

**Raining_Blood** · Posted On: 6/03/2007 6:36am

Im not sure if this is the same kid but I saw thing awhile ago about a kid who lacked a certain type of non essential protein that caused similar side effects. Probably not the next step in evolution but hell I wouldnt mind doing the iron cross at 5 months.