Abstract
Genetic studies in several species have demonstrated that myostatin (MSTN) normally functions to limit skeletal muscle mass. In a recent study, Mosher et al. reported that a mutation in the canine MSTN gene is responsible for the double-muscling phenotype seen in 'bully' whippets. Furthermore, they show that loss of even one functional MSTN allele seems to confer a competitive advantage to racing whippets, providing the first definitive evidence that loss of myostatin function can enhance athletic performance.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 475-477 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Trends in Genetics |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1 2007 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics