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Article: They might be giants: what makes the Washington Bullets' Gheoghe Muresan so tall? (over-production of growth hormone)
- Article from:
- Science World
- Article date:
- February 23, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 Scholastic, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Washington Bullets may not have a chance of taking the National Basketball Association championship this June, but the team does have one record clinched: At an incredible 2.3 meters (7ft, 7in.), the Bullets' center--Gheorghe Muresan--is the tallest player in the NBA.
How did Muresan get so tall? Could you end up towering over your friends too? Read on and find out!
GROWING PAINS
Muresan started growing rapidly when he was just 6 years old. He shot up abnormally fast because he has a disorder of the endocrine system--a network of glands (organs) that work together to produce chemicals called hormones. Hormones, which travel in your bloodstream to ...