http://www.metafilter.com/tags/whippet Posts tagged with 'whippet' at MetaFilter. Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:02:41 -0800 Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:02:41 -0800 en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 http://www.metafilter.com/62922/Double%2DMuscle%2DMutants <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myostatin">Myostatin</a> is a genetic protein that affects muscle growth in <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/33920/Superman-born-in-Germany">humans</a> and animals. Scientists have learned a lot about this protein from a noticeable myostatin mutation common in the Whippet dog breed. <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/05/11/sciath11.xml">Whippets with one mutant copy of the gene</a> are faster, so these are desirable for racing dog breeders. But selective breeding has caused <a href="http://www.myndeklubben.dk/Post/WhippetMyostatinProject.pdf">increased instances</a> of both copies of the myostatin genes mutating, which results in <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=467985&in_page_id=1770">"double muscle" Incredible Hulk dogs</a>!? tag:metafilter.com,2007:site.62922 Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:02:41 -0800 genetics muscle mutation myostatin whippet p3t3