Words Katrina Rivere
If you're reading this article, you're most likely not in Athens competing in the XXVIII Olympiad. But admit it, you once dreamt of, or still
dream of becoming a big hotshot athlete. Or maybe not.
Maybe you're one of those who just watch the games and stare in awe at how these athletes run or jump at almost super-human speeds
and heights. Just imagine if you could create an athlete who could run as fast as Maurice Greene and not run out of breath. Or what if you
could be a beefy, brawny guy who could effortlessly wrestle people to the ground with those rippling, bulging muscles. Impossible? Not really.
Recent research shows that making such so-called super athletes is actually viable.
It's in the genes
Genes are the basic physical and functional units of heredity. Each person has a different set of genes, which is why we all look different
from one another. Carried on chromosomes, these sequences of bases encode instructions on how to make proteins, which in turn make
up the majority of cellular structures as well as perform most life functions. When genes are altered - and the encoded proteins are unable
to carry out their normal functions - genetic disorders can result.
Gene therapy is a technique for correcting defective genes. In most gene therapy studies, a "normal" gene is inserted into the genome to
replace an "abnormal" disease-causing gene.
Research in gene therapy did not start out to serve athletes, however. It is originally - and solely - aimed at developing treatments for diseases
such as muscular dystrophy and anemia.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have successfully beefed-up the muscles of rats using gene therapy. Rats were injected with a
modified virus that transported a gene to their hind leg muscles. The gene then triggered increased production of a growth hormone called IGF-I.
This, combined with an intensive ladder-climbing exercise, caused the rats' muscles to become 15 to 30 percent stronger than would be expected
with exercise alone. However, even without exercise, the genetically modified rats' muscles grew by 15 to 20 percent.
Biotech companies are likewise developing gene therapies to increase red blood cell production. This is aimed at treating people with severe
anemia.
For now, such therapies are not yet ready for use in humans. But since gene therapy is poised to become a viable medical treatment, can gene
doping be far behind?
Genetically modified athletes
Genetic enhancements are already banned under international sporting rules. In November 1999, the World Anti-Doping Agency was created to
support, promote and achieve a completely drug-free sport. This year saw the implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code - a set of rules and
regulations governing anti-doping and common across all sports and all countries.
Anybody who's been listening to the news will have heard about the numerous steroid scandals of not a few athletes. In the US alone, the US
Anti-Doping Agency (established in 2000) has already nabbed 85 athletes for illegal drug use. Fines, suspensions, and bans on doping athletes
are also commonplace.
However, unlike many of the drugs used to enhance performance, genetic modifications would leave no trace in the blood or urine. Athletes
can, for example, bolster their perfectly normal aerobic capacity by injecting the gene for erythropoietin (EPO), a protein that boosts red
blood cell count. In 1998, the French Festina cycling team was thrown out of the Tour de France for using EPO. While it's possible to trace
the synthetic protein currently used by its molecular differences, EPO from introduced genes would be identical to natural EPO and, therefore,
difficult to spot.
If, for instance, a shotputter feels that he needs to strengthen his triceps, he could inject a muscle-enhancing gene, improve his throw of
the heavy metal ball, and get away with the "gene magic" he performed. The chemicals are indistinguishable from their natural counterparts
and are only generated locally in the muscle tissue. Nothing enters the bloodstream, so officials would have nothing to detect in a blood or
urine test.
Researchers say detecting gene therapy in humans might be possible through muscle biopsy - a painful procedure with minimal chance of
success. Moreover, subjecting oneself to untested genetic technologies puts one's health at risk. So far genetic therapies used to correct
illnesses have had limited success. Scientists still don't know the side effects of gene doping, but they say that it could damage organs such
as the liver and the heart. In 1999, an 18-year-old died while receiving gene therapy treatment at the University of Pennsylvania's Medical
Center. His is the first death that has been directly attributed to the effects of the gene therapy, rather than to the patient's underlying
disease.
The next sports scandal?
Gene therapy could transform the lives of people with genetic disorders. Unfortunately, it is also a magic formula for some athletes who
would gladly seize any opportunity to finish first in the race to the gold.
So will we simply be bettering the health of the population, or will we be seeing genetically modified super athletes at the Beijing
Olympics in 2008? That we'll find out soon.
