New at Science Daily, Couch Potatoes Explained? Missing Key Genes may be Cause for Lack of Resolve to Exercise Researchers Find Researchers breed some mice who lacked 2 genes. These genes controlled the release of AMPK (activated protein kinase). It gets released when you exercise and leads to the production of more mitochondria in the cell. Bio 101: mitochondria the "power house" of the cell. Mitochondria metabolize glucose and produce energy. It looks like the "lazy" mice couldn't produce the energy needed: "While the normal mice could run for miles, those without the genes in their muscle could only run the same distance as down the hall and … [Read more...]