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Genetics and Muscle Growth

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Submitted By rak3764
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24 November 2013
Genetics and Muscle Growth
An individual's genetic profile can play a role in defining their natural skills and talents. Muscle growth is one of those things that can be defined by genetics. Genes determine between 20-80% of the variation in traits like oxygen intake, cardiac performance, and muscle fiber composition. More than 150 genes have been linked to different aspects of physical performance. (Yang, MacArthur, & North, 2003)
The amount of muscle growth that develops is under the strickt control of myostatin, a protein created by the gene GDF-8, or the MSTN gene. Myostatin determines exactly how large a muscle can become by inhibiting muscle growth and regulating muscle breakdown. This protein is part of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily, which is a group of proteins that help control the growth and development of tissues throughout the body. (MSTN, 2013) Myostatin is found almost exclusively in skeletal muscles, where it is active both before and after birth.
Myostatin reduces protein synthesis and activates muscle protein breakdown, contributing to muscle regulation in two distinctly different ways. Studies have shown that when MSTN is overexpressed, muscle cells have reduced protein synthesis and smaller fibers. Research in healthy individuals showed an increase in human MSTN expression when not using the muscles, as seen with inactivity, bedrest, or spaceflight, and conversely, myostatin protein and its role in limiting muscle mass reduced with heavy resistance training. Myostatin gene expression seems to be higher in young men when compared to women or older individuals, but men also exhibited the greatest reductions following resistance training.
As the muscles reach their limits the myostatin steps in to prevent any further growth by breaking down the muscle proteins. Natural mutations and knockouts in animals

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