Gene-therapy at the Olympic Games

2001/11/30 Agirre Ruiz de Arkaute, Aitziber - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Genetika

Gene therapy was born years ago to treat diseases. Many diseases are due to mutations in genes and experts believe that the introduction of an appropriate gene into cells will allow cure diseases in the short term.

It is a technique of great potential, since in reality any gene can be included in the cell genome, as well as genes that can alter the physiological characteristics of the athlete. In fact, leading athletes often have favorable genetic variants, such as the one that causes the appearance of more red blood cells than usual. Therefore, the introduction of these genes in athletes who do not possess these genetic characteristics by themselves, could contribute to increase resistance and speed.

A similar example is the ACE gene. This gene directly influences the production of the enzyme that promotes the introduction of oxygen and nutrients into muscle cells. It is a polymorphic gene, that is, it has several variants: Alleles I and D. But the mountaineers who have traveled more than 8,000 meters without oxygen bottles were tested and it was observed that they all had combinations II or ID on their chromosomes, never DD. Therefore, the incorporation of the Allele I gene could be very useful for any high-level athlete.

Therefore, the experts who participated in this scientific congress have seen in the 2012 Olympic Games the risk that some athlete can use these techniques and stressed the need to develop a test that detects it. The International Olympic Committee has also expressed concern about this and has expressed its intention to launch a group of consultants.