Kevin's Watch

Amazing story, TOM. It's the kind of real life science that makes me think that stuff like the X-Men aren't that far-fetched. Genetic mutation is such an awesome and unpredictable force in nature. You could say that without it, we would not be sitting here talking about it. Wasn't the initial DNA molecule on planet Earth the greatest genetic mutation of all? (On second thought, I remember hearing that it was the RNA molecule that came first, not DNA.)

Who knows? Maybe it won't be long before we read about someone becoming incredibly strong after being bitten by a genetically mutated spider or something. He/she and Mr. Superboy should get together.

Matrixman wrote:It's the kind of real life science that makes me think that stuff like the X-Men aren't that far-fetched. Genetic mutation is such an awesome and unpredictable force in nature.

That is pretty much what I thought when I read the article. I also felt concern for the lad. How he might be exploited or treated by his peers. Are the mutations under enough control that as he grows into adulthood his musculature won't be warped beyond reason? I'd like to think that the boy would live a dream life of unbelieveable strength but who can say.

One thing is certain: superboy is going to be huge. I don't think his musculature will become abnormal per se, but they might become so large that he has difficulty in performing everyday tasks. He'll have a nightmare finding clothes too, plus he'll have to eat like a horse his entire life. He'll probably have a reduced life expectancy as well, as he'll have an increased risk of heart disease. Once he hits middle age he would have to work very hard to keep his atrophying muscle from accumulating around his heart as fat, and he'll have to be careful that his heart doesn't get too big for his coronary arteries.

All in all, I think superboy will be lucky if he lives to see sixty. He could grow up to be an increidible athlete though, assuming the IOC don't ban him (I suspect his natural blood biochemistry would fail him on a drugs test). I can just imagine him annihlating all of the world weight-lifting records.

Increased muscle growth is not all for the better, that is certain. If it were we would all be stronger wouldn't we? A basic idea of evolution.

His heart will probably explode upon the first release of adolescence-based testosterone enters his blood. Beneficial mutation has escaped evolution in humans thus far...at least on the magnitude we see here.