Genetically-Modified "Terminator" Trout Have 20% More Muscle

[Space Wolves]

http://io9.com/5492201/genetically+m...20-more-muscle



A new transgenic trout has been designed to have so much muscle that its body has developed a bulging hump on its back. What turns a trout into the Terminator? Terry Bradley, an aquaculture professor at the University of Rhode Island, has been researching how to counteract the effects of a protein called myostatin, which slows muscle growth. At last he's discovered how to block the production of myostatin in fish, resulting in this bulbous creature you see in the video above. Bradley's transgenic trout tend to grow 15-20% more muscle than average trout.
According to the University:

Bradley and a team of graduate students spent 500 hours injecting 20,000 rainbow trout eggs with various DNA types designed to inhibit myostatin. Of the eggs that hatched, 300 carried the gene that led to increased muscle growth. After two years, most exhibited a "six-pack ab" effect, even though fish lack standard abdominal muscles. They also have increased musculature throughout, including a prominent dorsal hump that made them look like they had muscular shoulders.
The first generation of transgenic trout were subsequently spawned, and offspring carrying the gene in all of their muscle cells have been produced. Studies are under way to determine if the fish grow at a faster rate as well.
"Our findings are quite stunning," said Bradley, who also studies salmon, flounder and tuna. "The results have significant implications for commercial aquaculture and provide completely novel information on the mechanisms of fish growth. The results also allow for comparisons between the mechanisms of growth of muscle in mammals versus fish, and it could shed light on muscle wasting diseases in humans."

And yes, it could also shed light on how to create a super-muscled human. Or it might just allow us to breed really meaty fish, which is a boon to fish farmers. And to people who yearn for a 20 pound trout steak.








well.....






1) Yummy
2) and yet scary
3) but most importantly, looks yummy. Poor fishes though

[hellheaven1987]

The problem is that you cannot change the DNA except the the very early embryo stage - which means first two weeks, before the cells are divided too many. It is possible to alter the effect of certain protein behavior using external chemical particles, but that is not genetical modification, not at all.

[Phier]

Good for fish farming, but would not survive well in the wild. There is a reason such things don't happen naturally, energy use.

[knight of virtue and valor]

Maybe someday bionic and biological modifications will be implemented in ground soldiers. with demographics the way it is, and the western countries fear of casualties, maybe gov dollars with make True Terminators. I would totally volunteer to be part of that project. maybe this muscle trout thing is a good proof of concept.

[hellheaven1987]

Maybe someday bionic and biological modifications will be implemented in ground soldiers. with demographics the way it is, and the western countries fear of casualties, maybe gov dollars with make True Terminators. I would totally volunteer to be part of that project. maybe this muscle trout thing is a good proof of concept.

That has nothing to do with genetical modification, but more as Bioware implant.

[Don in the North]

its perfect. i dont really like to eat fish but ill eat that bad boy any day

[Hounf of Culan]

Awesome, now I'm just wondering where my 35 lb filet mignon is at?

[Captain Jin]

This isn't new. In fact there is a certain type of cow that are bread with myostatin blockers and they are freaking huge. I also believe that somewhat recently a couple of babies have been born sans myostatin and they are already exhibiting serious strength and scientists want to study them in order to try and see how they can get all people like that. Imagine everybody walking around all yoked and powerful with very little exercise? That would be cool, but maybe not a good idea.

[Phier]

This isn't new. In fact there is a certain type of cow that are bread with myostatin blockers and they are freaking huge. I also believe that somewhat recently a couple of babies have been born sans myostatin and they are already exhibiting serious strength and scientists want to study them in order to try and see how they can get all people like that. Imagine everybody walking around all yoked and powerful with very little exercise? That would be cool, but maybe not a good idea.

If it was a good idea it would have happened already as its a simple mutation. A big issue would be what happens in starvation. Muscle is expensive to maintain. I'd guess there are other health issues as well.

[Gelgoog]

nothing beats the belgian blue cows.



That cow is going to kick your ass!

"In soviet russia, cow eats you!"

[Ishoss]

Everything beats the belgian blue. It needs humans to feed itself, there's no way a Belgian Blue would survive in the wild.

As a farm animal on the other hand!