Gene Doping

Gene Doping is the practice of using gene therapy to improve athletic ability by altering the effectively of genes utilized in athleticism. Gene Doping is defined as “the non-therapeutic use of cells, genes, genetic elements, or of the modulation of gene expression, having the capacity to improve athletic performance." (Light). Gene Doping is considered highly illegal in most sports even though there has never been any known incident of an athlete using it. There are two kinds of gene doping: Somatic gene doping and Germline gene doping. Somatic gene doping is when cells in a standard bodily cell such as a muscle or lung cell is altered to increase performance. Germline gene doping is the genetic manipulation of a gamete to have superior genes for traits such as muscle growth to produce a child with superior traits. The most probable targets for gene doping are Myostatin, Erythropoietin (EPO), Insulin-like growth factor 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor.

Scientists know of roughly 187 gene sequences that are tied to physical activity and athleticism. Gene Doping serves to alter how these genes are expressed and to what extent. The most common way of gene doping is theorized to be the use of retroviruses, because they naturally inject genetic material into cells. All scientists have to do is remove the harmful DNA from the inside of the virus and replaced with the desired human gene, then inject the virus into the desired location. Another potential method would be the use of plasmids, which are ring-shaped bacteria that can be fitted with human genes. When plasmids are injected into muscles and the muscles get an electric shock or ultrasound treatment, muscle cells take up the plasmids in a style similar to endocytosis. ...

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...ns, meaning that it may still be a while before gene doping begins to occur in a quantifiable amount, if at all. (University of Florida, 2008)

Works Cited

1. Nasr, Susan L.. "How Gene Doping Works" 03 December 2008. HowStuffWorks.com. 27 February 2014.

2. University of Florida. (2007, August 8). Scientists Seek Test To Detect Gene Doping In Athletes. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 27, 2014 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070806160102.htm

3. Friedmann, Theodore. "How close are we to gene doping?" The Hastings Center Report Mar.-Apr. 2010: 20+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Feb. 2014

4. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.wada-ama.org/rtecontent/document/2008_List_En.pdf

5. Light, M. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.wada-ama.org/en/Science-Medicine/Science-topics/Gene-Doping/