Hello Geeks! Its monday and as promised, we will invigorate the child in us again with another childhood idol of ours just like what we did with Spider-Man. If you haven't checked that article, click on this link. So today, we will look into a superhero behind the mask once more and uncover the actual science that might be behind their powers. With that said, the one we will feature for this week is none other than the first avenger
Captain America
Disclaimer: Though the science mentioned in the “Superheroes Through a Microscope” are genuine, its application to the superheroes is mainly hypothetical and is based on the facts and knowledge that I gathered through research. The connections are just mere speculation for entertainment purposes
Steve Rogers or Captain America is a feeble young man who was a subject in an experiment to create a super soldier using a serum to help the United States in its efforts in World War II. Steve rogers was nothing more than a sickly man with no superhuman powers, but because of the Super-Soldier Serum and "Vita-Ray" treatment, his strength, speed, agility, stamina, reflexes, and healing are enhanced close to that of a superhuman. Basically, Steve Rogers became Captain America because of the serum. So, the million dollar question here would be "is there a scientific basis for the origin story of our star spangled soldier?” Surprisingly yes, but before we proceed to that we must first understand the fictional procedure that was done to our frail Steve Rogers.
The Transformation
As we see in the movie “Captain America: The First Avenger”, the procedure done on Steve Rogers was fairly simple. He was injected with the serum and then exposed to “Vita-Ray” (A fictional radiation in the Marvel Universe). After that, he then transformed into someone who would later be known as Captain America. When the procedure concluded, one of the notable changes in Captain America is his physique. The procedure instantly and dramatically increased his muscle density resulting to increase in strength.
Though this may rather be a bit of an exaggeration, increasing muscle mass without exercise is possible with two genetic materials called Myostatin and Follistatin. Myostatin inhibits muscle growth to keep it in a certain natural size while Follistatin regulates Myostatin to make sure muscles aren’t underdeveloped. A number of experiments have been conducted before using these genetic materials through epigenetic modifications. Epigenetic modifications refers to heritable alterations that are not results of changes in a DNA sequence. Rather, these modifications change DNA accessibility and chromatin structure, thus regulating patterns of gene expression. Simply put “epigenetic modification” as a science used to modify genetic attributes.
Isolated quadriceps muscles from the left-hand unmodified (control) side and the right-hand genetically-modified (CMV-FS) side of a macaque monkey.
Similar to Steve Rogers case, there is actually a team of scientists from Ohio State University and the Center for Gene Therapy at Ohio’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital who have successfully demonstrated the genetic enhancement of macaque monkeys by lowering myostatin levels allowing for a higher rate of muscle growth. In this experiment, muscle size and strength increased over a 3 month period after treatment in contrast to the immediate change with Steve Rogers. Results showed that the quadriceps circumference increased from around 16-17cm to about 21cm. Furthermore, twitch strength or the force produced by rapid muscle contraction increased by about 25% and tetanic strength or force produced by sustained contraction by 12.5%. It was also noted that the increase was not correlated with any change to other organs or hormones.
The Serum
So, epigenetic modification may have been used on Steve Rogers to achieve peak physical fitness which is the main purpose of the serum. However, to truly achieve enhanced strength, one must introduce huge amounts of follistatin to the body in order to overpower the myostatin. Just like the above mentioned experiment with the monkeys, follistatin can only be introduced to the body in the form of a virus. Because of its way of entering the body, the immune system automatically kicks off and fights off the virus-- even the harmless ones. Which is why the immune systems of the monkeys were significantly weakened for them to receive the follistatin.
Luckily for Steve Rogers, he was already weak and sickly when he signed up for the experiment but the story doesn't end there. The scientist in Captain America would have to introduce more than just the follistatin to create a super-soldier such as Vitamins C and E for immune system boost. They would need to cluster them together and let it reach a specific region in the body in the form of a virus before releasing them. So how does one do it? By using Dendrimers. Dendrimers are molecules that are repetitively branched which enable it to carry more material than viruses. Just imagine Dendrimers as tiny boxes that can hold genetic materials needed until they are prompted to release them. This is basically how viruses work.
The Vita-Ray
So assuming that the Super-Soldier Serum is actually dendrimers packed with follistatin and other supplements, what's the next step after administering them? The dendrimers are still sealed shut. Coincidentally, dendrimers are actually activated by a type of electromagnetic radiation called dumduduuuum (drum rolls please) UV Rays. When exposed to a specific amount of UV rays, dendrimers release the materials sealed within. Why coincidental? Well if you watch Captain America: The First Avenger again you see Steve Rogers entering a small chamber where he is blasted with the fictional Vita-Ray. The blinding light from within is surprisingly similar to that of a tanning salon where its customers are blasted with UV Rays. So, the “Vita Ray” might have been the tool they used to activate the serum thus making one of the most iconic Superhero of all time.
The Truth
By taking into account the technology we have today, one can say that The Super-Soldier serum is quite possible if you look at its rudimentary concepts. In fact, many experiments similar to this have been conducted yet none has quite grasped the perfect formula for the perfect soldier. However, with the continuous progress of science the relentless pursuit for a better living, who knows? Maybe one day the superhero we now know might not be that super in anymore.
GIF and Photo Sources:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Web Sources:
https://hplusbiopolitics.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/super-strong-genetically-engineered-monkeys/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2852878/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myostatin
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3107542/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendrimer
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2016/01/3-vitamins-best-boosting-immunity/
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/MSTN
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Great post. Really interesting read (I still gotta go check the Spidey one). But back on the fictional canon, it wasn't only the serum what turned skinny Steve into Cap Steve, the Vita-Ray developed by Howard Stark is what helped the serum succeed, hence why the Red Skull, the Abomination and even Black Widow & The Winter Soldier (all of whom have been injected with variations of Erskine's formula) aren't quite like Steve. I think it's a 50-50 between serum and vita rays so, if both are possible in the real world then we might be able to create a real-life Steve Rogers, but if there's only one or the other, idk...
I read the Spidey one and it was really cool! I'm a huge fan of Spider-Man by the way 😊
Oh, yeah, I just read it after this one. Reaaally good post that one :)
Great post! Curious now to read all your other ones :)