The ‘gene doping’ could be the next wave manipulation in the sport.
Researchers warn that genetic manipulation could soon become difficult to detect ways for athletes to cheat
Just in time for the Winter Olympics, scientists warn of a new kind of performance-enhancing agents that use technology and who might be particularly difficult to detect at online pharmacy.
online pharmacy
Some researchers are already grappling with approaches to athletes and coaches who want to know if genes can be modified to improve strength or muscle mass, to accelerate healing of injuries or to alter the perception of pain, according to an article that appears in the edition February 5 issue of Science.
“If the investigator says he is not ready for human use and must first pass through clinical trials, the coach’s response is that maybe you can use your athlete as a human subject,” said co-author of Mark Frankel, director program of scientific freedom, responsibility and law of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a nonprofit organization in Washington, DC
The “gene doping” is not only cheating, but could be dangerous, Frankel said. The genetic alteration is considered highly risky and experimental, and nobody knows what are the consequences if the desired effect out of control on online pharmacy.
“We are worried,” said Frankel. “We think that the kinds of developments that happen at the doctor face to treat various diseases or injuries will be adopted and tested by athletes and their coaches looking for the next competitive advantage.”
WADA is well aware of the potential of genetically modified athletes, said Dr. Theodore Friedmann, director of gene therapy program at the University of California at San Diego and chairman of gene doping panel of that agency in Montreal online pharmacy.
Gene therapy is among the most promising new strategies for treating the disease, said Friedmann. Therapists gene in hundreds of laboratories around the world investigating, especially in animal models, how genes or their expression could be altered to treat diseases. Among the techniques is the introduction of new genes into cells using a virus as a vector or even the use of drugs to change the way genes work.
The athletes might use gene therapy to enhance performance through increased production of red blood cells, increase muscle mass, manipulating the production or use of metabolic energy, or alter the metabolism of fat or the perception of pain, said Friedmann .
“We suspect that potentially would use gene doping are being kept abreast of gene technology, learning a lot from how it is done lawfully and preparing to use similar techniques in sports,” said Friedmann, who authored the article with Frankel Olivier Rabin and WADA.
The 2010 Winter Olympics begin Feb. 12. Should the fans wonder if that skater or skier to win using gene manipulation to cheat?
Probably still be difficult for athletes to obtain substances or the technology for genetic modification today, said Frankel. But on the Internet, companies are already saying things perhaps dubious about products that promise to “alter the genes of muscle … by turning on their genetic machinery,” or make “any bodybuilder … is genetically gifted.”
And the traditional forms of performance-enhancing drugs still abound. Among the substances banned in the Olympics are stimulants, anabolic steroids, human growth hormone and erythropoietin, a synthetic hormone that acts on stem cells in the bone marrow to increase production of red blood cells and endurance.
The parade of elite athletes who were found using banned substances continues. Erythropoietin has been implicated in scandals of doping among cyclists in the Tour de France and long distance runners. Steroid use has caused the downfall of several players from major league baseball. The professional tennis player Andre Agassi admitted using methamphetamines.
Although these substances can be detected through blood or urine tests, “do not yet have any evidence for genetic manipulation,” said Frankel. “We must seek the physiological changes that could occur only if these artificial interventions are performed.
Frankel urged athletes and coaches not to take the risk first. In a real life example, researchers used gene therapy in a small number of infants suffering from severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), the disease known as “bubble boy”. Although some children were much improved, several developed leukemia.
“Basically, we know what steroids do to the body. But right now, we’re not sure what can be triggered if you start to make changes in the genetic makeup,” said Frankel. “It may be inert and not make or what you wanted. Or maybe you have unforeseen consequences for health”
I think am just having some problems with subscribing to RSS feed here.