Gene Manipulation

[oclifter]

Study raises fears of genetically modified athletes


11:00 17 February 04

NewScientist.com news service

A study showing that gene therapy can make muscles respond much better to exercise has raised the prospect of genetically modified athletes.

"Half of the emails I get are from patients," says Lee Sweeney, at the University of Pennsylvania, and leader of the research. "And the other half are from athletes."

The researchers injected rats with a modified virus that transported a gene to their hind leg muscles. The gene triggered increased production of a growth hormone called IGF-I.

Combined with an intensive exercise regime of ladder climbing, this caused the rats' muscles become 15 to 30 percent stronger than would be expected with exercise alone. Even without exercise, the genetically modified rats' muscles grew by 15 to 20 per cent, Sweeney says.

The research is aimed at developing treatments for diseases such as muscular dystrophy. Such therapies are not yet ready for use in humans and such genetic enhancement is likely to remain beyond the reach of athletes for some time. But the prospect of genetically modified athletes is already alarming drug testers.


Muscle biopsy


"It's a matter of some concern," says Dick Pound, chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency. "What's most disturbing is that some of the first inquiries have come from trainers."

Genetic enhancements are already banned under international sporting rules. But, unlike many of the drugs used to enhance performance, genetic modifications would leave no trace in the blood or urine. A muscle biopsy would be the only means of detection.

Sweeney says genetic researchers may therefore need to design their treatments to be susceptible to discovery. "Given current testing, athletes would be able to get away with it," he says. "They would have to change the testing mechanism."

There is also concern that athletes will put their health at risk by using untested genetic technologies. Gene therapies used to correct illnesses have had only limited success and two patients treated with gene therapy for "bubble boy syndrome" in France developed leukaemia as a result.

It is also possible that genetic modifications targeting IGF-I could make muscles so strong that they could damage the recipient's bones, Sweeney says.

The research was presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Seattle, Washington.

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Now that was an interesting read...Amazing, isnt it? Yet scary too..

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