Genetically Modified Athletes

BY ROGER KALLA
….not on environment

There is less than 100 Days to go before the Commonwealth Games here in Melbourne. I can’t but wonder if we are going to see the first GM Athletes compete in the pool at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre or in the track and field events at the MCG.

At a recent conference at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm organized by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) gene doping – the unscrupulous use of genetic modification to enhance athletic ability by athletes, sportspeople and coaches was discussed as well as methods of detection of DNA cheats . The testing methodology is still under development and will not be ready for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Torino nor the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

One example of a gene that could potentially be used for gene doping is IGF-1.

US researchers has inserted IGF-1 into the muscles of mice. Humans have this gene as well, and our muscles make IGF-1 to repair themselves. But as we get older, our muscles make less and less of it. The muscles of mice given IGF-1 got on the order of 15 to 20 percent stronger without the animals doing anything. So the introduction of this gene which caused a higher production of IGF-1 caused the muscles to get stronger without any exercise. With exercise the gene altered mice muscles became 30 percent stronger.

According to Brad Kloza in ScienCentral News of the 7 December 2005 the US researchers responsible for the study has gotten hundreds of emails from athletes and coaches who want to test the technique – regardless of safety guarantees. While declining their requests, the willingness to try this untested therapy has convinced the researchers that gene doping will become a reality.

In the same article Richard Pound, president of the WADA is quoted as saying “There will be, if not countries, there will be people in some countries that are going to be prepared to try it. And unfortunately that’s human nature.”

Athletes are looking for something that gives them the edge over the competition. Some are willing to take a risk to gain a benefit.