Gene+Doping+(Parsons)

National Geographic August 14, 2008

Gene Doping is a recently discovered way of inserting genetic information into someone’s body. In this way, they can “custom make” Olympians or make people more fit with faster and stronger muscles. Although it can give stronger muscles, it can cause cancer or even death. One way it works is a harmless virus is injected into a muscle. The virus carries a performance enhancing gene. An example is Repoxygen which inserts a gene for erythropoietin, a hormone that tells the body to make more red blood cells, which give more oxygen to the muscles. Another way gene doping can work is by it modifying genes that already exist in the body, making it more possible for someone who wants to control the function of it. A while ago, scientist thought that it would be a huge, immediate advancement, but then they discovered it has serious effects such as cancer, other problems like immunodeficiency disorder, and sometimes death. The problem is that the immune system tries to fight it off. Although there are these effects, there are less ambitious forms of gene-doping that inject DNA into the muscle. The DNA, containing the hormones that affect the muscles and strength, are used in the cell. Scientists are still working with genetics and discovering more ways to genetically modify. Gene-doping in the future may be used on not only athletes, but everyday people, making them more fit and healthy.

Rebekah Parsons March 9, 2010