Matthew Wood
Rough Draft Gene doping is defined as “The transfer of polymers of nucleic acids or nucleic acid analogues” by the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency). Essentially gene doping is modification of a person’s genes in order to improve how they perform. This can be done several ways, however the most common method is the use of a vector. The gene that is to be inserted into the host is placed inside the capsule of a virus. The virus is able to spread throughout the tissue to be effected and injects its DNA into individual host cells. The host cells can then update certain DNA fragments and incorporate them into their own DNA sequence. This can lead to a downstream effect of protein or hormone production among other possibilities. …show more content…
While some gene doping can lead to overall systemic changes in the host, there are also changes that are stimulated by outside events are only present while the stimulant is. Genes can essentially be “switched on” or “switched off” (gene engineering article). Because measurement of gene doping can be up to interpretation due to its variability, direct detection of vectors can only happen in a limited number of cases. This only happens if: “1) The analysis is conducted early enough after administration. 2) In the case of injection, the local treatment site is known. 3) The athlete accepts invasive procedures (such as biopsy), which is unlikely.” The effects of gene doping can also be either extracellular such as secretion of hormones, or intracellular. Intracellular results are much harder to measure only adding to the complexity of possible testing methods (gene delivery article). Gene doping is not without its consequences though. While genes of interest have been identified and techniques for insertion have been developed safety, stability, and secondary effects have not yet been studied for clinical use. One example of secondary effects of gene modification was demonstrated in a clinical trial on SCID-X1 (an immunodeficiency disease). While the immunodeficiency was corrected, 4 out of the nine gene therapy patients developed sever T-cell leukemia (oncogenisis
Rough Draft Gene doping is defined as “The transfer of polymers of nucleic acids or nucleic acid analogues” by the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency). Essentially gene doping is modification of a person’s genes in order to improve how they perform. This can be done several ways, however the most common method is the use of a vector. The gene that is to be inserted into the host is placed inside the capsule of a virus. The virus is able to spread throughout the tissue to be effected and injects its DNA into individual host cells. The host cells can then update certain DNA fragments and incorporate them into their own DNA sequence. This can lead to a downstream effect of protein or hormone production among other possibilities. …show more content…
While some gene doping can lead to overall systemic changes in the host, there are also changes that are stimulated by outside events are only present while the stimulant is. Genes can essentially be “switched on” or “switched off” (gene engineering article). Because measurement of gene doping can be up to interpretation due to its variability, direct detection of vectors can only happen in a limited number of cases. This only happens if: “1) The analysis is conducted early enough after administration. 2) In the case of injection, the local treatment site is known. 3) The athlete accepts invasive procedures (such as biopsy), which is unlikely.” The effects of gene doping can also be either extracellular such as secretion of hormones, or intracellular. Intracellular results are much harder to measure only adding to the complexity of possible testing methods (gene delivery article). Gene doping is not without its consequences though. While genes of interest have been identified and techniques for insertion have been developed safety, stability, and secondary effects have not yet been studied for clinical use. One example of secondary effects of gene modification was demonstrated in a clinical trial on SCID-X1 (an immunodeficiency disease). While the immunodeficiency was corrected, 4 out of the nine gene therapy patients developed sever T-cell leukemia (oncogenisis