1. Biotechnology and Creating the Better Athlete
BY LUKE EVANS

2. What is Biotechnology?
The important aspect of Biotechnology for my project is MEDICINE because it includes:
Anabolic Steroids
Human Growth Hormone
Gene Therapy
Biotechnology is technology based on biology, agriculture, food science, and medicine.

3. Human Growth Hormone (HGH)
Taken in high doses, it can provide a head-to-toe muscle boost and can even add a few extra inches of height
Hormone that stimulates growth and cell reproduction and regeneration

4. HGH continued
Traditional urine test could not detect doping with HGH, so the ban in sports was unenforceable until the early 2000s, when new blood tests could find traces of it.

5. ANABOLIC STEROIDS
“They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue (anabolism), especially in muscle” (
Most popular kind of biotechnological athletic doping
First created in the 1930’s

6. Gene Therapy and Sports
Gene therapy is the insertion of genes into an individual's cells and tissues. A single body part or function can be singled out and remodified. It can even change how one’s DNA works.
Which means bigger, faster, stronger athletes.
Click for an Interesting Article on Gene Therapy and Sports

7. Gene therapy is potentially the future of biotechnology in sports, as the possibilities are endless. But first it must be perfected.
Also gene therapy can make career ending injuries such as those limited to wheel chairs, become virtually become nonexistent, because of the ability to rebuild an injured nerve, muscle, bone, ligament, etc..

8. Controversies Today
Uneven playing field for those that “dope” and those that remain “natural”.
Suspicions constaly arising (i.e., Usain Bolt, Barry Bonds and MLB)
-Increased pressure for young athletes to use biotechnology in order to compete.

9. Anabolic Steroid Abuse in Children:
YEAR
8TH GRADE
9TH GRADE
12TH GRADE
1991
1.9%
1.8%
2.1%
1999
2.7%
2.9%
2001
2.5%
3.5%
4.0%

10. Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks:
"I'm not so against steroids, if it's administered under the proper supervision."

11. What could the future hold for Biotechnology in sports?
We could see a day when all professional athletes are genetically modified
Biotechnology becomes kosher for all athletics?
Records could be shattered. Physically, athletes would be considered Superhuman compared to today’s standards
New rules like
15’ Basketball hoops?
Click for a journalist's prediction of the future of sports regarding Biotechnology