Myostatin an PCS

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

Good point. A new mutation with benefits can spread quickly. In this case the mutation might be spread by new methods.

Except that this is about a broken gene, not a new one continuing to produce an enzyme. The fact that no wild animal has it should strongly suggest that it isn't as beneficial as it first appears.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

Just explaining why it may not have spread yet.

Getting this as a pre-natal genemod may not be all that attractive generally. People that want it should be able to get it as that muscle-building proteus virus described in the Muscle Graft section of Bio-tech. It might even be cheaper and of course Muscle Reinforcement gives you strength without extra weight or bulk.

It's far too crude, simplistic, and mixed blessing at best for THS. It would make for a good footnote in the history of gene modding for a setting.

Lowered myostatin levels may make sense as one of a cluster of micro-adjustments in a "treatment".

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

People that want it should be able to get it as that muscle-building proteus virus described in the Muscle Graft section of Bio-tech. It might even be cheaper.

It also means that you can get it for yourself, rather than only for your offspring. Or you can just use anabolic steroids (or a higher tech improved version).

[Astromancer]

Also, given the fact that this mutation exists in the realworld, Transhuman Space would have improved versions of it.

Logically the one downside they couldn't get around is that extra muscle would require extra calories to support them.