Flex Wheeler and the Myostatin Gene - rarest form of myostatin mutation

Chris250 · 11-25-2009, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by BALCO Laboratories, Inc.
October 1, 1998

Re: Flex Wheeler

To whom it may concern:

I am writing this letter per the request of Flex Wheeler.

I would first like to briefly provide you with some background information regarding BALCO Laboratories. BALCO has been working with elite Olympic and professional athletes for over fifteen years. BALCO has provided testing and consultation for over 250 NFL players including the entire 1998 Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos team and the entire Miami Dolphins team. BALCO works with professional athletes in many sports including teenis (Michael Chang, Jim Courier, etc.), hockey, bodybuilding (10 of the 16 1998 Mr. Olympia contestants), track and field, soccer and basketball (Seattle SuperSonics).

BALCO Laboratories has been testing and monitoring Flex on a routine basis during the last year. We have performed tests including blood chemistry (SMAC), complete blood count (CBC), PSA, anabolic hormone levels, genotyping as well as comprehensive testing for nutritional elements. Flex's test results have been compared to twenty-four other professional bodybuilders and overall he has one of the healthiest profiles. Basically, Flex is in excellent health and has demonstrated the discipline necessary to maintain a peak level of conditioning.

Flex was a participant in a study we recently conducted in collaboration with the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh involving 62 men who made unusually large gains in muscle mass in response to strength training (extreme responders). Flex was one of only nine extreme responders that had the very rare "myostatin mutation." Myostatin is the gene that "limits muscle growth." Specifically, Flex had the rarest form of myostatin mutation at the "exon 2" position on the gene. This simply means Flex has a much larger number of muscle fibers compared to the other subjects or the normal population. We believe that these are the very first myostatin mutation findings in humans and the results of this landmark study have already been submitted for publication. Flex was also found to have a very unusual type of the IGF-1 gene. In fact, Flex was the only participant in the study that did not have a "match." All of the other extreme responders had at least three other subjects with a matching IGF-1 gene. Based upon Flex's very unique genetic profile, we plan to expeditiously publish a scientific paper that reveals his complete genotype in specific detail. The publication of his remarkable genetic data should generate an enormous amount of media exposure.

Hope this information will be helpful and please call if I can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

/s/ Victor Conte
Victor Conte
President
BALCO Laboratories, Inc.

Chris250 · 11-25-2009, 09:30 AM

I found this pretty interesting...

The Dude · 11-25-2009, 03:35 PM

I remember reading that a few years ago. Frankly, given the source and the subject, I don't buy it. Now if we were talking Ronnie Coleman.... OK, but Flex never blew me away. I also met Flex and spoke with at length at the 2006 Olympia. I was bigger than he was.... doesn't sound like muscle mutant of the century to me.

Presser · 11-25-2009, 03:56 PM

pretty interesting none the less

saudades · 11-25-2009, 06:59 PM

I remember hearing about that before. Lucky bastard.

jtunderdog · 11-25-2009, 07:15 PM

I see a door for some type of "flex" supps. LOL. Explains alot. I bet several other pros would show the same genetic tendancies however. Its just like mma guys like Randy Couture who has been shown to have lower lactic acid after strenous exercise. In my opinion it just shows they are doing what they were created to do.

Chris-Winfield · 11-25-2009, 08:18 PM

...

CH3NO2 · 11-25-2009, 09:53 PM

Stands out pretty good to me. I always thought Flex made bodybuilding look easy and NEVER tried as hard as the other guys. He looks amazing to me, very small joints and a small waist. He never had the huge gut Ronnie had. He always impressed me.

Squirrely · 11-25-2009, 11:04 PM

Wish I could look like that...

BiggerStronger · 11-25-2009, 11:40 PM

He was always one of my favorites. Very aesthetic looks.

Chris-Winfield · 11-26-2009, 12:10 AM

...

bigheinz · 11-27-2009, 05:24 AM

Forget a bout Flex.....Where can we get the myostatin???? lol

11-25-2009, 09:30 AM	#1
Chris250 MuscleChemistry Site Representative / National Level Bodybuilder Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3,184 Rep Power: 3201	Flex Wheeler and the Myostatin Gene - rarest form of myostatin mutation Originally Posted by BALCO Laboratories, Inc. October 1, 1998 Re: Flex Wheeler To whom it may concern: I am writing this letter per the request of Flex Wheeler. I would first like to briefly provide you with some background information regarding BALCO Laboratories. BALCO has been working with elite Olympic and professional athletes for over fifteen years. BALCO has provided testing and consultation for over 250 NFL players including the entire 1998 Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos team and the entire Miami Dolphins team. BALCO works with professional athletes in many sports including teenis (Michael Chang, Jim Courier, etc.), hockey, bodybuilding (10 of the 16 1998 Mr. Olympia contestants), track and field, soccer and basketball (Seattle SuperSonics). BALCO Laboratories has been testing and monitoring Flex on a routine basis during the last year. We have performed tests including blood chemistry (SMAC), complete blood count (CBC), PSA, anabolic hormone levels, genotyping as well as comprehensive testing for nutritional elements. Flex's test results have been compared to twenty-four other professional bodybuilders and overall he has one of the healthiest profiles. Basically, Flex is in excellent health and has demonstrated the discipline necessary to maintain a peak level of conditioning. Flex was a participant in a study we recently conducted in collaboration with the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh involving 62 men who made unusually large gains in muscle mass in response to strength training (extreme responders). Flex was one of only nine extreme responders that had the very rare "myostatin mutation." Myostatin is the gene that "limits muscle growth." Specifically, Flex had the rarest form of myostatin mutation at the "exon 2" position on the gene. This simply means Flex has a much larger number of muscle fibers compared to the other subjects or the normal population. We believe that these are the very first myostatin mutation findings in humans and the results of this landmark study have already been submitted for publication. Flex was also found to have a very unusual type of the IGF-1 gene. In fact, Flex was the only participant in the study that did not have a "match." All of the other extreme responders had at least three other subjects with a matching IGF-1 gene. Based upon Flex's very unique genetic profile, we plan to expeditiously publish a scientific paper that reveals his complete genotype in specific detail. The publication of his remarkable genetic data should generate an enormous amount of media exposure. Hope this information will be helpful and please call if I can be of assistance. Sincerely, /s/ Victor Conte Victor Conte President BALCO Laboratories, Inc. __________________ MUSCLECHEMISTRY SPONSORED COMPETITOR www.nsupps.com/chris250 Supplementing Your LIFEstyle 2007 MR.IOWA AND MIDWEST OVERALL CHAMPION 2006 CONTINENTAL USA CHAMPION 2006 MIDWEST IRONMAN CHAMPION

11-25-2009, 09:30 AM	#2
Chris250 MuscleChemistry Site Representative / National Level Bodybuilder Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3,184 Rep Power: 3201	I found this pretty interesting... __________________ MUSCLECHEMISTRY SPONSORED COMPETITOR www.nsupps.com/chris250 Supplementing Your LIFEstyle 2007 MR.IOWA AND MIDWEST OVERALL CHAMPION 2006 CONTINENTAL USA CHAMPION 2006 MIDWEST IRONMAN CHAMPION

11-25-2009, 03:35 PM	#3
The Dude MuscleChemistry Guru Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,464 Rep Power: 208983	I remember reading that a few years ago. Frankly, given the source and the subject, I don't buy it. Now if we were talking Ronnie Coleman.... OK, but Flex never blew me away. I also met Flex and spoke with at length at the 2006 Olympia. I was bigger than he was.... doesn't sound like muscle mutant of the century to me. __________________ The Dude Abides

11-25-2009, 06:59 PM	#5
saudades MuscleChemistry Admin Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: In the Desert Age: 41 Posts: 8,737 Rep Power: 10	I remember hearing about that before. Lucky bastard. __________________ MuscleChemistry Site Administrator "The more you know, the more you grow!" Do not ask me for sources, you won't get a reply. -S

11-25-2009, 07:15 PM	#6
jtunderdog MuscleChemistry Site Representative Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,858 Rep Power: 13867	I see a door for some type of "flex" supps. LOL. Explains alot. I bet several other pros would show the same genetic tendancies however. Its just like mma guys like Randy Couture who has been shown to have lower lactic acid after strenous exercise. In my opinion it just shows they are doing what they were created to do. __________________ Is a fictitious character who talks about interesting topics just for fun. If your arms are 12 inches...don't shave them.

11-25-2009, 03:56 PM	#4
Presser MuscleChemistry Guru Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 1,728 Rep Power: 10	pretty interesting none the less

11-25-2009, 08:18 PM	#7
Chris-Winfield MuscleChemistry Guru Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,129 Rep Power: 1141	... Last edited by Chris-Winfield; 12-07-2009 at 07:36 PM.

11-25-2009, 09:53 PM	#8
CH3NO2 MuscleChemistry Guru Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Floriduh Age: 32 Posts: 753 Rep Power: 765	Stands out pretty good to me. I always thought Flex made bodybuilding look easy and NEVER tried as hard as the other guys. He looks amazing to me, very small joints and a small waist. He never had the huge gut Ronnie had. He always impressed me. __________________

11-25-2009, 11:04 PM	#9
Squirrely MuscleChemistry Newbie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 44 Rep Power: 0	Wish I could look like that...

11-25-2009, 11:40 PM	#10
BiggerStronger Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Sunny San Diego Age: 28 Posts: 3,802 Rep Power: 8269	He was always one of my favorites. Very aesthetic looks. __________________ Bigger, Faster, Stronger

11-26-2009, 12:10 AM	#11
Chris-Winfield MuscleChemistry Guru Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,129 Rep Power: 1141	... Last edited by Chris-Winfield; 12-07-2009 at 07:36 PM.

11-27-2009, 05:24 AM	#12
bigheinz IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Aventura, Fl Age: 41 Posts: 455 Rep Power: 472	Forget a bout Flex.....Where can we get the myostatin???? lol __________________ There is no space for the littles!!!!!!! Bigheinz www.fit-foryou.com www.pro-edge.net www.prowriststraps.com

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