Examining The Mutant Bloodstream

March 1st, 2012

Filed under: Comics, Medicine

In Wolverine and the X-Men #4, the Beast takes some of his students on a microscopic tour of the Toad’s bloodstream.

scene from Wolverine and X-Men #4

This scene suggests that the x-gene is on its own chromosome, and this chromosome circulates freely in the bloodstream.

x-gene

Some observations:

X-Genes!This contradicts recent statements that the x-gene is located on the x-chromosome (not a complaint, just an observation. The “science” of the x-gene changes frequently).

X-Genes!Those are some huge chromosomes. Each chromosome should be at least a hundred times smaller than the red blood cells shown hear, not the same size.

X-Genes!Chromosomes only assume their “x” shape (classically seen on karyotypes) when they are undergoing replication — otherwise they long, thin, and have more of an “l” shape. When condensed into their x shape, the DNA is tightly coiled and nowhere near as visible as seen here.

X-Genes!That is one tiny gene: it seems to only be made up of around 24 base pairs. So that’s eight codons, making it code for a protein of only about 6 or 7 amino acids (in contrast, the ß-hemoglobin gene has 444 base pairs).

X-Genes!It does no good to have the chromosomes circulate in the bloodstream. To actually function and produce proteins, genes need the machinery found within the cell (RNA, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, etc.).

X-Genes!You’d think circulating x-genes/x-chromosomes would make it real easy to run a simple blood test to detect a mutant. Why’d it take so long to come with one?

X-Genes!Toad looks rather anemic — he’s rather low on red blood cells.

(Yes, yes, I know: artistic license. To which I respond: high school biology. That being said, I like the visual of jellyfish as antibodies. I’m not sure what the barnacles are supposed to represent.)

6 Responses to “ Examining The Mutant Bloodstream ”

  1. Charlene
    March 2nd, 2012 at 2:09 am

    Barnacles adhere to ships, and ships have masts….mast cells?

    I got nothing.

  2. Peter
    March 2nd, 2012 at 10:01 am

    Yes! So awesome to see you review this. Wait till you see Kid Gladiator fighting the Brood in the mediastinum. There’s some very interesting anatomy there.

    …So if the x-gene is only 24 base pairs, how much of that is introns?

  3. Brigid Keely
    March 2nd, 2012 at 2:15 pm

    I recall a couple in X-Factor in the early 1990s having a blood test to see if their unborn child is a mutant and getting a positive for it. I want to say it’s their second child, and their first child lit on fire in his/her crib and burned to death, because of an undetected mutation? I don’t remember what the larger story was about, though. They weren’t, like, main characters or anything, it was some background story going on. I’m pretty sure it was a Peter David/Larry Stroman book.

  4. David Oakes
    March 4th, 2012 at 2:03 am

    Since this is the bloodstream, barnacles = plaque. Toad might want to cut back on the French Flies.

  5. puppygod
    March 4th, 2012 at 1:29 pm

    These chromosomes are erythrocyte-sized and present in blood? You don’t need a test. You need a microscope.

    Also, I have not a faintest idea how they are supposed to work.

  6. Squares
    April 10th, 2012 at 3:30 am

    That entire issue was horribly researched in so many ways…

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