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Has Genetic Testing for Athletic Ability Created a Monster?
Filed under: In The News
Is your kid the next basketball superstar? A test could tell you. Credit: Getty
For $20, you can get a genetic testing kit that supposedly tells you if your child may be the next Michael Jordan. You scrape some genetic material off the inside of the kid's cheek and send the sample off to a lab. The next thing you know, it's, "Congratulations, Mr. Smith. It's a Heisman Trophy winner."
Yes, science can do that. Sort of. The Daily Mail in London reports testing cannot precisely predict greatness, but it can identify genetic characteristics that indicate your child may have strong athletic proclivities.
What's next? Once the genetic code can be deciphered and manipulated, will people grow armies of uber-jocks in test tubes in their garages in suburban Chicago? Do you have any idea what that could mean? The Cubs could have a winning season!
As seductive as that idea may be, scientists and ethicists worry genetic testing for athleticism may already be on a slippery slope that leads to a place that can only be described as Too Far.
There's the issue of testing children against their will, and other concerns, as well.
"In the 'winning-is-everything' sports culture, societal pressure to use these tests in children may increasingly present a challenge to unsuspecting physicians," a commentary in last week's Journal of the American Medical Association reads.
University of Maryland researcher Stephen Roth tells the Daily Mail genetic testing "is in its infancy."
"This is recreational genetics with a real serious potential for harm," he tells the newspaper. "People are going to think, 'If my kid has this, I'm going to have to push real hard. If my kid doesn't have it, I'm going to give up before I start.' While parents have the authority to make health care decisions about their children, this type of genetic testing is elective at best and should actively involve the children in the decision-making process."
Atlas Sports Genetics has sold hundreds of the kits for $200 since 2008.
"Our goal is to help people become the athlete they were born to be," Nat Carruthers, the company's operations president, tells the Daily Mail.
Alison Brooks, a pediatrician and sports medicine specialist at the University if Wisconsin, co-wrote the commentary for the American Medical Association, but tells the Daily Mail she's whistling in the wind when it comes to genetic testing.
"My guess is we're going to see more of this, not less," Brooks tells the newspaper.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
3-15-2011 @ 3:50PM
Kim said...This should be mandatory for every child in every school. Because these kids have defects and want to play sports and die at practice, and games. We also need Aids, and hepatitis testing before anyone ever gets a job working in a fast food restaurant, or just working with food. Because I I'd like to know who is making my food disease free. This is a health concern for all to know and not to be hidden with health rights.
Reply
3-15-2011 @ 6:16PM
Larry W. Bruce said...I would be more interested in research to determine if someone is pre-disposed to be addicted to drugs, alcohol or may have a gluten or diabetic pre-dispositionhealth problem rather than, is my kid going to be a good athlete. In my opinion this is narcistic and selfish to use this DNA service to determine whether your kid will be a good athlete. rediculous.
Reply
3-15-2011 @ 7:01PM
Getouttathepool said...I'd like to have a test for all parents to see if they are fit to be parents. Just because the plumbing works not all people should be allowed to have kids.
Reply
3-15-2011 @ 7:44PM
Patrick said...This article is so stupid.
Propaganda.
Just report the story, do not add emotional twist to the truth.
The writer of this article should be fired and forced to read a book about "How to tell the truth"
Reply
3-15-2011 @ 7:48PM
old enough to remember said...Getting a good education is more important. I am not advocating genetic testing to see if "little Jonny or Jane" is a genius. I am just saying, becoming a professional athlete is very hard to do. Also, what are you going to do after your career is over? It only lasts a relatively short time and most athletes do not invest wisely, landing up broke in middle and old age.
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