"Finding the Golden Genes"

Brittany Sanchez

VTPP 434-502

Written before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, this article discusses the science behind what may have proven to be "the first genetically modified Olympics." 

The technology behind what is known as 'genetic doping' was developed for the treatment and modification of genetic diseases such as sickle cell anemia. Scientists believe that gene therapy could be seen as enticing to athletes, used for the enhancement of athletic ability. Although the progress of gene therapy has been shown in many clinical trials ranging from treatment for early-onset vision loss to erectile dysfunction, the current setback is the inability to detect illicit therapy use.

Repoxygen is an experimental virus designed to deliver a therapeutic gene by insertion into the person’s DNA is just one of the many used today. It was developed as a treatment for severe anemia used by “infecting” patients with a harmless virus carrying a modified gene that encodes erythropoietin, a protein that enhances red blood cell production. This protein, EPO, increases oxygen capacity and use is found to be tempting to athletes, as it would boost endurance. Because viruses have the natural ability to inject into their host’s DNA, they are used most readily as vehicles for gene therapy.

The detection of illicit therapy use has become a fundamental issue in the science behind gene therapy. Scientists have come up with many methods of detection including direct search for the foreign gene, signs of an immune reaction to a virus possibly used for transportation of the gene, search for a body-wide response to the new gene and focus on the study of proteomic based science for the knowledge of body proteins.

The ‘discentive’ that scientists could not stress more is that ‘gene doping' is permanent, more intense and more dangerous than previous methods of athletic enhancement and research is going to continue to prevent such activity.

Often times biomedical technology breakthroughs are used in ways not intended and this provides for a worrisome future for medicine.  Genetic modification, in all aspects, provides issues for more than just science, it also brings forth ethical concerns and remains a controversial topic. Because we still aren't aware of all that genetic modification can affect, we should remain informed to the best of our ability and continue to question for our own health and safety.

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/34225/title/Finding_the_Golden_Genes