Genetically Enginneered Superathelete
Discussion
There has been a lot in the news recently about dopping and athletes. I was wondering when and if it would be possible that someone could engineer a super human being.
For example I had a DNA fitness test done. This is where the analyse your DNA to determine what genes you have and how they impact your fitness potential. My genetic profile shows that I have a low potential VO2 max, take a long time to recover and at and increased risk of soft tissue injury. On the plus side I respond well to power and strength based activities.
For example CRP Gene (C-Reactive Protein - Associated with an acute phase protein which rises in response to inflammation in the body) my result is "GG
May experience higher levels of inflammation (and CRP) after strenuous exercise. A longer rest period between training sessions may be required compared to AA."
Would it therefore be possible to genetically engineer someone to have all the best possible genes so they could, through the correct training, become incredible strong and fit.
Clearly the morals would be a huge factor but is it technically possible to do at this stage or will be soon?
For example I had a DNA fitness test done. This is where the analyse your DNA to determine what genes you have and how they impact your fitness potential. My genetic profile shows that I have a low potential VO2 max, take a long time to recover and at and increased risk of soft tissue injury. On the plus side I respond well to power and strength based activities.
For example CRP Gene (C-Reactive Protein - Associated with an acute phase protein which rises in response to inflammation in the body) my result is "GG
May experience higher levels of inflammation (and CRP) after strenuous exercise. A longer rest period between training sessions may be required compared to AA."
Would it therefore be possible to genetically engineer someone to have all the best possible genes so they could, through the correct training, become incredible strong and fit.
Clearly the morals would be a huge factor but is it technically possible to do at this stage or will be soon?
Pistom said:
Einion Yrth said:
Pistom said:
I wonder if we will ever see bio machines where a biological being is just used for work functions.
Sheep dog? Plough horse?If that's the fuss we get over a few potatoes resilient to pests, then just think of the fuss if we started engineering guide dogs or sniffer dogs to be more effective? Sadly, human ignorance holds us back once again and we'll probably have to stick to selective breeding over generations to eek out the characteristics we want.
In answer to the OP: yes, of course, we could engineer athletes to be the best ever, with a little more work perhaps on breeding methods. One question I'd like to know the answer to is how close Usain Bolt is to the perfect sprinter, or Mo Farah is to the perfect distance runner. It's also worth mentioning Lance Armstrong, because even if you take away the effect of the drugs and the blood transfusions, he was a genetic freak and an immensely capable athlete. If they're all at the peak of their field after all the thousands of people who've tried to be in their position have been sifted out, how close to genetically perfect are they for what they do?
Edited by RobM77 on Tuesday 15th September 09:34
Yeah interesting to see the genetic profile of some of the top athletes. The two you mentioned Bolt and Mo, also Michael Phelps. If you were going to design a sprint swimmer it would look like him. Plus I think his lactate threshold is huge.
Its really interesting to see how genetics effects things. I spent ages doing long slow work trying to build endurance where by genes show I am just not suited to that. Now do a lot of sprint and power/strength work.
Its really interesting to see how genetics effects things. I spent ages doing long slow work trying to build endurance where by genes show I am just not suited to that. Now do a lot of sprint and power/strength work.
True, but for those of us who won't make it to be professional athletes, the sports we're good at and the ones we enjoy needn't necessarily be the same, and it would be a shame to have genetic tests done early and then perhaps avoid sports that we might end up really enjoying. For example, of all the sports that I do, the two sports that I enjoy the most and do the most of I'm actually pretty rubbish at, whereas two other sports that I'm actually pretty good at I don't really enjoy. I'm sure this is the case for many people. Furthermore, you might actually find that if someone isn't going to be a world beater at their genetically pre-disposed sport anyway, then with dedicated training in the sport they enjoy but aren't pre-disposed to do they might end up achieving more than in a sport they're naturally good at but hate training for.
ETA: and I'm forgetting about pushy parents! Imagine how miserable the lives of some kids would be if their parents knew their son or daughter could be world class at something if they trained hard enough?
ETA: and I'm forgetting about pushy parents! Imagine how miserable the lives of some kids would be if their parents knew their son or daughter could be world class at something if they trained hard enough?
Edited by RobM77 on Tuesday 15th September 09:46
RobM77 said:
ETA: and I'm forgetting about pushy parents! Imagine how miserable the lives of some kids would be if their parents knew their son or daughter could be world class at something if they trained hard enough?
The kids would think 'Wow, I could be world class at something if I tried hard enough, but actually I think I'll stay in my bedroom and play on my smartphone for the next 20 years'.Simpo Two said:
RobM77 said:
ETA: and I'm forgetting about pushy parents! Imagine how miserable the lives of some kids would be if their parents knew their son or daughter could be world class at something if they trained hard enough?
The kids would think 'Wow, I could be world class at something if I tried hard enough, but actually I think I'll stay in my bedroom and play on my smartphone for the next 20 years'.
I'm not sure I'd be changing my lifestyle based on a test like this. They really aren't very widely accepted by the scientific community who's work they claim to be based on.
The technology is almost there but it is illegal so we won't know for certain. Mostly likely it is possible however.
If it's ever legalised it'll find its home in eliminating the diseases of our children however. I don't think you'll ever see it in professional sport.
The technology is almost there but it is illegal so we won't know for certain. Mostly likely it is possible however.
If it's ever legalised it'll find its home in eliminating the diseases of our children however. I don't think you'll ever see it in professional sport.
RizzoTheRat said:
Depends who's got the money. £500m/year spent on cancer research, how much did the top football clubs spend on transfers this year?
I'd be confident it's substantively more than that. Novartis just bought GSKs Oncology pipeline, for about 16 billion USD. Thankfully Novartis made 58 billion in net profits in 2014 so they have the cash to burn. That is just one of several big companies.The point being, if money were the only barrier, we'd be doing it already.
944fan said:
Yeah interesting to see the genetic profile of some of the top athletes. The two you mentioned Bolt and Mo, also Michael Phelps. If you were going to design a sprint swimmer it would look like him. Plus I think his lactate threshold is huge.
Its really interesting to see how genetics effects things. I spent ages doing long slow work trying to build endurance where by genes show I am just not suited to that. Now do a lot of sprint and power/strength work.
Phelps for sprints? Hmmm maybe. For certain strokes maybe, but IMO some have and indeed have had the measure of him over 100m fly for instance, and his 100 m freestyle is very quick, but not the quickest. I don't think he's done many 50 sprints either. The out and out sprinters are much bigger guys, much more powerful. Phelps is really a great all-rounder with a preference for fly and is much better over the 100-200-400 m middle distances than most people. His ability to recover is absolutely his key weapon...very few can do the kind of back to back performances he and Ledecky can do.Its really interesting to see how genetics effects things. I spent ages doing long slow work trying to build endurance where by genes show I am just not suited to that. Now do a lot of sprint and power/strength work.
For out and out sprinting I reckon you can't look too far beyond people like Mark Foster. Here is a man who managed 5 olympics off the back of sprinting a 50m freestyle. The guy barely did any swim training (in terms of distance and pool time) when you compare to people like Phelps and Ledecky doing 1000's of metres and hours a day. He did a lot of gym work. He just had the right build, the right muscles. Sprinting was just natural to him. I mean he did some of his best times right in his mid 30's. Natural born sprinter.
RobM77 said:
It's a matter of artificial selection vs genetic engineering, which is a battle the agricultural industry are embroiled in right now. Despite genetically modified crops being simply a shortcut method for the artificial selection that we've performed for centuries (modifying completely natural genes), people are up in arms about GMOs and several countries have even banned them. The opposition's main argument seems to be the use of pesticides, which is so stupidly ironic it's bordering on funny.
Short cut? How long would it take to selectively breed wheet with jellly fish genes?Gassing Station | Science! | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff