Synthesis Essay: The Influence Of Genotypes In Sports

There was a school friend in my village. We were of similar phenotype (height, weight etc) and same age except the fact that we were not twins. In studies we both were average but in sports he was very good in kabaddi and football. I assumed that some super natural powers contributed to his skills. Over the years especially during my years as student of genetics, did I realize that the supernatural power must have been the genes. My school friend, after few years, because of personal reasons which had impact on his mental strength, did lose his prowess in kabaddi and football. Then I realized that genes alone do not matter. It must be that both genes and environment contributed to his prowess, which is his phenotype, in sports. Edson Arantes …show more content…
Phenotype is the set of observable characteristics (height, color, skills etc) of an individual resulting from its genotype, environment and interaction between genotype and environment. Genotype is genetic constitution of an individual for a particular character. In this case gene/genes affecting athletic performance. Phenotype is always influenced by genotype and environment and interaction between genotype and environment. For example a given phenotype i.e. a bird building nest, height of an individual, an athlete’s performance etc is a result of genotype, environment and interaction between genotype and environment. According to science whatever we do, including performance of an athlete is influenced by genotype, environment and interaction between genotype and environment (physical, economic, social, political …show more content…
It is a must-read for athletes, parents, coaches, and anyone who wants to know influence of genetic factors on sports abilities.” As per David Epstein, not all Kenyans are good distance runners. Descendants of the Kalenjin (a group of people in Kenya’s Rift Valley) make up 12% of the population but account for the vast majority of the country’s distance runners. Similarly 10 of our friends from north east India made (out of 21 players) it to under 17 Indian football team. It is almost 50 percent of the team. Of this, 8 are from our state. Definitely our friends separate themselves from rest. There must be certain factors that separate population of North East India, including Manipur, from the rest of the population of Indian Union, in sports. The reason many researchers have not strayed into this unexplored area is that research may be labeled as racial or ethnical stereotyping. Science points that one of those factors is gene. Other factors include willingness to train (It is reported that willingness to train is also a genetic trait), environment (physical, economic, social, political etc), infrastructure, nutrition, rewards,