a boy in Germany who is now 4.5 years old was born with a mutated myostatin gene. this gene controls muscle growth so he was born with unusually bigger muscles. researchers have demonstrated in mice that taking out the myostatin gene makes the mouse double its muscles. of course, the body building community has been crazy about this discovery. and of course, crooked pseudo-pharmo companies have tried to market a "supplement" that would "block the activity of myostatin." doctors have been following this boy's growth for years and he seems to be completely normal otherwise. time will tell whether genetically altering the myostatin gene can safely treat muscle diseases like muscular dystrophy (or perhaps be used for vanity purposes?). [via]