Australian scientists have been able to discover and identify a protein in the human body that regulates muscle size. And now it will be possible to grow these same muscles in any quantity.
This mysterious protein, which already has the name "Gbr10", was discovered during experiments on mice. The brave animals were divided into two groups. One of the groups of mice, still in prenatal development, managed to block the Gbr10 protein at the gene level.
The second group of mice developed as usual. After birth, after some time, it turned out that in animals with a blocked protein, muscle mass significantly exceeds the mass of mice that developed naturally.
The results of the experiments proved that in the case when the functions of the Gbr10 protein are canceled, that is, its effect on muscle growth during growth in the womb is completely excluded, the muscles of the developing organism begin to grow in a much larger volume. As noted by one of the scientists who conducted this most difficult experiment, Dr. Lowenne Holt, this discovery was made unexpectedly.
According to biologists, the prospects for the practical use of the conducted research are enormous. This is the restoration of lost or atrophied muscles, and wound healing. The Gbr10 protein, which has received the already unscientific nickname "Hulk", will also help fight diabetes and many diseases associated with the need to regulate muscle tissue.
Meanwhile, along with optimistic forecasts, there are many fears in using this discovery in practice. So, for example, professor at Moscow State University Vyacheslav Dubynin believes that blocking the natural function of the Gbr10 protein can create a problem in the development of other organs and tissues of the body, therefore, before applying this gene technology in practice, one should very responsibly approach the study of side effects that can occur during gene manipulation.
He believes that humanity is not yet ready with full responsibility to approach the use of genetic engineering, due to the lack of necessary knowledge and experience, which humanity simply does not yet have.