Will Genetic Juicing Replace Steroids?

Athletes are always under pressure to become stronger and faster. Some coaches take risks and drastic measures like steroids. Many athletes and coaches will be tempted to find new ways to give the athletes and advantage. Thus, many people are now turning to Gene therapy to make themselves stronger. Gene therapy is the practice of inserting different genes into the cells to improve their performance. Currently, it is only legally used for medical reasons to make patients live longer. However, gene therapy is currently risky for several reasons: firstly, the gene may be rejected by patient. Because the genes are foreign material, people's immune system may reject the gene and destroy it, causing the operation to fail. If the operation is done poorly enough, the immune system's response may be severe enough to kill the patient (i.e., shutting down organs, including the brain). Also, gene therapy does not last for a long period of time, so multiple operations are required until the therapy actually works and cures the patient.

This does not stop many athletes and coaches attempting to try it out. Many medical centers claim to have the latest "breakthrough" in genetic therapy, and they claim to be cheap and effective. One of the more popular advertised therapies is the insertion of synthetic genes into athletes, which can produce chemicals linked to muscle building. Another molecular manipulation regulates or increases the production of energy-efficient muscle fibers. In 2006, a German track and field coach tried to allow genetic juicing to his athletes for the 2008 Olympics in China, but was caught before anyone could be treated. In an attempt to stop genetic manipulation in athletics, the World Anti-Doping Agency (an organization set up by the Olympics to stop athletes from using enhancing drugs in sport) preemptively outlawed all genetic therapy in athletes. Additionally, scientists are working on ways to catch genetic enhancements by looking at and isolating suspicious genes. Sadly, these preventive methods will probably to do little to stop desperate coaches and players, and genetic enhancements in athletes may replace steroids. However, the side effects of genetic therapy are much more dangerous than steroids, and they will probably lead many players to their demise.

Sources:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=athlete-alert-is-genetic-juicing-se-2010-02-04

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_therapy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Gelsinger

Image credit:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/DNA_helix_structure.png

By Coda, Afemi, and Mason

Genetherapypres by Coda, Afemi, and Mason

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