Lance Armstrong Confesses to Performance Enhancing Drugs: What is Erythropoietin (EPO) Blood Doping? In 2013 Lance Armstrong, the winner of the cycling competition Le Tour de France for seven consecutive years confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs during his career. A synthetic version of the natural hormone erythropoietin, EPO is an extremely effective drug that is widely prescribed by the medical community to treat several health conditions and diseases. It is also one of the most popular but banned performance enhancing drugs. Its illegal use is especially widespread in the endurance sports community, most notably in professional cycling. EPO artificially increases endurance and stamina by stimulating red blood cell production, sidestepping the body's regulatory mechanisms. Natural EPO production is stimulated by the kidneys when low oxygen levels are detected. Nevertheless, the body tightly controls how much erythropoietin is produced in the kidneys, keeping the portion of blood made up by red blood cells at about 40 to 45 percent. This only varies for people living at different altitudes. Performance enhancing drugs like the synthetic EPO can cause a condition called polycythaemia. Polycythaemia is a disease which causes a higher proportion of cells when compared to the watery plasma causes the blood to be thicker and move slower, leading to clots. Blood clots can be life-threatening, as they can cause strokes and heart attacks, among other conditions. (Extract taken and adapted from Bleacher Report, 2013) a. Briefly explain how a red blood cell is adapted to carry out its function. b. Give a biological explanation for using a synthetic version of the natural hormone erythropoietin (EPO) to increase endurance and stamina. c. Briefly explain how red blood cell count varies in people living at higher altitudes. d. List and explain ONE function of blood other than transportation.
Lance Armstrong Confesses to Performance Enhancing Drugs: What is Erythropoietin (EPO) Blood Doping? In 2013 Lance Armstrong, the winner of the cycling competition Le Tour de France for seven consecutive years confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs during his career. A synthetic version of the natural hormone erythropoietin, EPO is an extremely effective drug that is widely prescribed by the medical community to treat several health conditions and diseases. It is also one of the most popular but banned performance enhancing drugs. Its illegal use is especially widespread in the endurance sports community, most notably in professional cycling. EPO artificially increases endurance and stamina by stimulating red blood cell production, sidestepping the body's regulatory mechanisms. Natural EPO production is stimulated by the kidneys when low oxygen levels are detected. Nevertheless, the body tightly controls how much erythropoietin is produced in the kidneys, keeping the portion of blood made up by red blood cells at about 40 to 45 percent. This only varies for people living at different altitudes. Performance enhancing drugs like the synthetic EPO can cause a condition called polycythaemia. Polycythaemia is a disease which causes a higher proportion of cells when compared to the watery plasma causes the blood to be thicker and move slower, leading to clots. Blood clots can be life-threatening, as they can cause strokes and heart attacks, among other conditions. (Extract taken and adapted from Bleacher Report, 2013) a. Briefly explain how a red blood cell is adapted to carry out its function. b. Give a biological explanation for using a synthetic version of the natural hormone erythropoietin (EPO) to increase endurance and stamina. c. Briefly explain how red blood cell count varies in people living at higher altitudes. d. List and explain ONE function of blood other than transportation.
Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN:9780134580999
Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Publisher:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation
Section: Chapter Questions
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Transcribed Image Text:Section B: Answer ALL questions on file paper. You need to use GRAPH PAPER for question 9.
• Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Lance Armstrong Confesses to Performance Enhancing Drugs: What is Erythropoietin (EPO) Blood Doping?
In 2013 Lance Armstrong, the winner of the cycling competition Le Tour de France for seven consecutive
years confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs during his career.
A synthetic version of the natural hormone erythropoietin, EPO is an extremely effective drug that is widely
prescribed by the medical community to treat several health conditions and diseases. It is also one of the
most popular but banned performance enhancing drugs. Its illegal use is especially widespread in the
endurance sports community, most notably in professional cycling. EPO artificially increases endurance and
stamina by stimulating red blood cell production, sidestepping the body's regulatory mechanisms.
Natural EPO production is stimulated by the kidneys when low oxygen levels are detected. Nevertheless, the
body tightly controls how much erythropoietin is produced in the kidneys, keeping the portion of blood
made up by red blood cells at about 40 to 45 percent. This only varies for people living at different altitudes.
Performance enhancing drugs like the synthetic EPO can cause a condition called polycythaemia.
Polycythaemia is a disease which causes a higher proportion of cells when compared to the watery plasma
causes the blood to be thicker and move slower, leading to clots. Bl0od clots can be life-threatening, as they
can cause strokes and heart attacks, among other conditions.
(Extract taken and adapted from Bleacher Report, 2013)
a. Briefly explain how a red blood cell is adapted to carry out its function.
b. Give a biological explanation for using a synthetic version of the natural hormone erythropoietin (EPO) to
increase endurance and stamina.
c. Briefly explain how red blood cell count varies in people living at higher altitudes.
d. List and explain ONE function of blood other than transportation.
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