Natural GMOs Part 245. Transgenes make male's muscles bigger

(Before It's News)

Author Summary

Syncytins are “captured” genes of retroviral origin, corresponding to the fusogenic envelope gene of endogenized retroviruses. They are present in all placental mammals in which they have been searched for, where they play an essential role in placentation via their cell-cell fusion activity. Here we show that they also contribute to myoblast fusion and muscle formation in development and repair after injury, using both in vivo knock-out mouse models and ex vivoprimary myoblast cell cultures from several mammals, including humans, carnivores and ruminants. Interestingly, the effects observed in mice are sex-dependent, thus suggesting that the added “collateral” effect of syncytins on myogenesis could be responsible for the muscle sexual dimorphism observed in placental mammals.

Full article @PLOS Genetics: Genetic Evidence That Captured Retroviral Envelope syncytins Contribute to Myoblast Fusion and Muscle Sexual Dimorphism in Mice:

See also earlier posts

• Natural GMOs Part214. Natural exploitation of captured virus genes. Even marsupials do it!  
• Natural GMOs Part125. Mammals Made By Viruses links to Mammals Made By Viruses | The Loom | Discover Magazine: 

• Toothless GMO Food Labeling Bill Becomes Law
• Cattle, cleared forests, and climate change: Scoring global companies on their deforestation-free beef commitments and practices
• Where are Beginning Farmers Farming?
• North Korea says floods ‘worst disaster’ since 1945
• Calling local coders to join inaugural Zoohackathon to ‘further our efforts to reduce the demand for wildlife trafficking and preserve these iconic species’
• U.S. endures hottest summer nights on record – California, Connecticut, and Rhode Island each had record hot summer
• Global warming is ‘significant and direct’ threat to U.S. military – ‘Inaction is not a viable option’
• Staggering rhino poaching in the Kruger
• Emma Thompson speaking truth to power at the UN
• Green Energy Shock: Canadians Confront Climate Policy