Should legal restrictions limit the application of gene therapy to only correcting genetic defects? Should enhancement
gene therapy and/or gene doping be illegal? Do you think such a law would be enforceable? Explain your reasoning. What will be an ideal response?
ANSWER:Answers
will vary.
Background:If
we discover genes that control a desirable trait such as intelligence or athletic ability,
should we use them to enhance someone’s intellectual ability or athletic skills? For now, the
consensus is that we should not use gene transfer for such purposes. However, the FDA
allows the use of growth hormone produced by recombinant DNA technology to enhance the
growth of children who have no genetic disorder or disease but are likely to be shorter than
average adults. Critics point out that approving transfer of a gene for enhancement is only a
short step from the current practice of approving a gene product for enhancement.
Concern over the use of genes instead of gene products to enhance athletic performance
began in 2001, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical Commission met
to discuss how gene therapy might affect sports competition. Other agencies, including the
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), have prohibited gene transfer (gene doping) as a
means of enhancing athletic performance. Although agencies such as the IOC and WADA
prohibit the use of Repoxygen, others are calling for legalization of gene enhancement,
arguing that regulating the use of this gene therapy is more effective than attempting to
prevent its use. They also argue that gene doping is only an extension of technology such as
artificial nutrition and hydration by intravenous fluids, which is already permitted.
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