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Home Articles Reviews Videos App Store Book Shop Forum More than human Transhumanism, Real Mutants and the Future of Bodybuilding and Sports By Adam Sinicki Transhumanism is the controversial edeavour of trying to improve the human condition and overcome frailties such as old age, stupidity and weakness so pushing the limits of our potential through science. Basically using technology and genetics to run faster, jump higher, think smarter and lift heavier. As you can imagine that appeals to yours truly but the ethics behind such a pursuit are complicated to say the least - a simple injection to make us smarter (which is on the horizon) would have massive social, ethical and economical implications. This isn't going to stop the relentless march of science however and whether we like it or not we're at the dawn of the genetic age. It's time to prepare. The use of drugs in bodybuilding is almost a given today and although technically the use of substances such as steroids and growth hormones are prohibited most competitive bodybuilders will use one or both of them to get the edge over their rivals. Wikipedia (AKA the all-knowing oracle) describes Transhumanism as 'permanent or non-permanent changes' which could even suggest that bodybuilders are already posthuman from the use of anabolic steroids and synthetic hormones. In that case so could someone who takes ginkgo biloba for a boost in memory or even a vitamin tablet to help their immune system. While these aren't examples of Transhumanism as it is generally understood they do demonstrate the difficulty in defining the concept and in deciding where to draw the line when 'self improving'. But what happens when drugs are yesterdays news and gene doping becomes commonplace? Drugs give bodybuilders a competetive edge, but manipulating genes could potentially blow the competition out of the water. Regulating it will be even more diificult as it will leave no traceable substances and the effects of one injection could be permanent. Furthermore the potential for growth will be doubled. The way such an injection would work is by supressing a gene that regulates the production of a chemical known as myostatin. Myostatin is a chemical that prevents the growth of muscle, and so by removing it from the body athletes could have the physiques of a bodybuilder at least without even training. This isn't science fiction either and has actually been successfully accomplished in mice. An artists impression of a genetically alterred mouse... An actual mutant mouse When that injection becomes widely available it could make our years of training a waste of time. We bodybuilders and athletes are then going to be forced to make a hard choice: if you could have one single injection that would ensure your muscles became bigger than they are now and stayed that way for the rest of your life - would you take it? If you did change your genes would you still be 'you'? What if you suspected the competition were? What if even the general public were? It may be that without participating in this new science you wouldn't have a chance at competing or even being as strong as many civilians. If that was the case wouldn't the winner just be the athlete with the access to the best scientists? In team sports it's often already simply the team with the most money... In some ways this could actually be an improvement - at least this form of cheating would end the need for the myriad of dangerous and expensive drugs that are currently used in bodybuilding circles. With no upper limit on size judges might have to start focussing on symmetry again; something that can't be achieved without hitting the gym. It is possible, though not certain, that the IFBB and other outfits would find a way to monitor such methods too and if they do not they might consider splitting the competitions up to offer seperate awards for the genetically enhanced. Although I'm not sure who would pay to watch the natural guys who might even be weaker than audiences by then. Even then though there are still ethical complications. It may surprise you to know for example, that there are actually cases of individuals whose DNA was altered at birth in such a way that they stopped producing the myostatin. That's right: supermen and women who were born far stronger than normal individuals due to a genetic mutation. A toddler with mutated DNA and abnormally large calves So would you allow these guys to compete in the natural category? Is that fair on the other competitors? Some sources suggest that one of these unique people actually already do compete regularly. Spooky. It's not just bodybuilding that's in danger either and there are many other ways that genetic engineering can improve an athlete; increasing their speed, their intellect, their endurance or their bone density. They could even give swimmers gills or fins... the possibilities are endless. Even non-athletes will be forced to choose whether or not to enhance their bodies to improve their quality of living, functionality and even attractiveness. Genetics are only the tip of the iceburg in terms of what will become available; soon we will be able to have chips implanted into our brains that enable us to communicate with machines, and we'll have drugs that can permanently fight the affects of ageing. Again in some ways we already do enhance our bodies both permanently and non-permanently. When you're in a car or using a phone you are already using technology as an extension of yourself. Plastic surgery meanwhile is a very obvious example of how we can change ourselves physically and permanently. If you'd consider getting your ears pinned back why not go one stage further and have your skin turned blue? One day we can all be 'blue buddies' and the golden age will be here. The sheer range of possibilities will result in humans becoming far more unique and individual but it will become far harder for someone, such as a bodybuilder, to stand out. These are all decisions that we are going to be forced to make in our lifetime (unless you're like... 68, in which case you probably won't be around sorry) and even they could be significantly inreased (the lifespans that is). Whether or not it's a good thing remains to be seen. This site meanwhile details all the ways you can already improve yourself without going anywhere near a needle or implant. When you can jump higher, run faster, think smarter and hit harder you're already superhuman in a way and if you focus on all these factors then even if someone does become genetically stronger you may still have an edge in other areas. Transhumanism certainly offers some interesting potential for the future but shouldn't be accepted or rejected wholesale - rather each technology should be considered on its own merits. I think it's our right to choose and I think Iron Man is super cool. Although if everyone could inject themselves and become as strong or fast as they liked - the hard work that characterises bodybuilding would be obsolete and there'd be nothing special about having 20'' guns. The difference to me between say steroids and gene doping, is that steroids can damage your health. If gene doping was a one-off and entirely safe procedure then I'd be game if I was the only guy with access to the technology. Whether I think it should be widely available is another matter however, and it seems a shame to me that so many people should be considering genetic and technological enhancement when no-one has yet even begun to discover the true extent of our natural potential yet. Enter: The Biomatrix.  Copyright 2012 The Biomatrix.Net

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