I was watching the news tonight & it said that Tyler Hamilton, a gold medal cyclist, is being investigated for blood doping. Basically they are saying he had a blood transfusion before competing to help with his performance. They said when tested they found someone else's blood in his system.
My question is this...since blood contains DNA when you have a blood transfusion do you retain any of their DNA? Does it just mix with yours & go away?
Sorry, it just got me thinking, maybe because I am tired.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 05:53 am:

No, you don't, because DNA is at a much deeper cellular level. Blood cells are destroyed over a period of time and your body keeps making new blood.

By Kellyj on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 10:47 am:

Mature RBC lack nuclei (area of the cell that contains DNA). The cells transfused to him do not divide. They are destroyed in 120 days. Immature RBCs are produced in the bone marrow. Once mature, they lose their nuclei and are released into the blood stream.

I would guess that differences in protein composition of the blood and not so much DNA evidence is what tipped off investigators that there had been a transfusion. But I'm not positive about that.

http://www.physioweb.org/rbc.html

By Emily7 on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 11:00 am:

Okay.
I was half asleep last night & didn't pay attention in science class.

By Dana on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 12:14 pm:

I always paid attention in science class, but have never heard of or even thought to think about DNA and transfusions. Thanks for the original post question. Learn something every day!