In the case of many elite athletes, there is actually scientific basis for the phrase “natural born talent”, at least to some degree. The increased interest and research opportunity in genetics since the latter twentieth century naturally sparked research within the sport science community in discovering how gene expression correlates to athletic ability. Though countless factors help to determine an athlete’s abilities, genes can play a role in athletic performance. Some of the pertinent factors affected by genetics include aerobic endurance, cardiac and lung capacity, strength capacity, and muscle fiber composition.There are more than two hundred genes that are known to be associated with levels of athletic ability and skill, and two very
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There are two variants of the gene, ACE-I and ACE-D. A study of over four hundred marathon runners, half marathon runners, and inline skaters found that the runners who commonly placed between first and one hundred and fiftieth place more often had the ACE II genotype (Hruskovica et al., 2006). This study and similar research indicates a connection between the ACE II genotype and proficiency at endurance sports. Research from 2007 found that female non-elite athletes with the ACE II genotype had greater improvement in their speed and working heart rate in response to a six week running program (Cam, Colakoglu, M., Colkoglu, S., Securi, & Berdeli). ACE-I is associated with being proficient at endurance sports, and can be helpful in creating greater training …show more content…
In theory, the ideal genotype of an athlete is within reach by using genetic engineering, but there are other, more tangible elements to consider. According to Guth and Roth, “A favorable genetic profile, when combined with an optimal training environment, is important for elite athletic performance; however, few genes are consistently associated with elite athletic performance, and none are linked strongly enough to predict athletic success” (2014). In other words, the right genes can provide a basis for success in sport, but the athlete still has to train and encourage expression of those genes. Conversely, people with performance inhibiting genes can manipulate other factors to succeed in their sport. The research on genes and their correlation to athletic skill is interesting, yet other parts of the athletic process are more important and significantly easier to manipulate. Genes can be important in the success of an athlete. There is strong evidence that variants of ACTN3 and ACE are associated with greater athletic performance in power athletes and endurance athletes, respectively. Those are the most well-studied examples, but there are many genes not included in this paper that correlate to other aspects of athletic skill. While this is an area of interest for some in the athletic community, athletic ability is best obtained through training
There are two variants of the gene, ACE-I and ACE-D. A study of over four hundred marathon runners, half marathon runners, and inline skaters found that the runners who commonly placed between first and one hundred and fiftieth place more often had the ACE II genotype (Hruskovica et al., 2006). This study and similar research indicates a connection between the ACE II genotype and proficiency at endurance sports. Research from 2007 found that female non-elite athletes with the ACE II genotype had greater improvement in their speed and working heart rate in response to a six week running program (Cam, Colakoglu, M., Colkoglu, S., Securi, & Berdeli). ACE-I is associated with being proficient at endurance sports, and can be helpful in creating greater training …show more content…
In theory, the ideal genotype of an athlete is within reach by using genetic engineering, but there are other, more tangible elements to consider. According to Guth and Roth, “A favorable genetic profile, when combined with an optimal training environment, is important for elite athletic performance; however, few genes are consistently associated with elite athletic performance, and none are linked strongly enough to predict athletic success” (2014). In other words, the right genes can provide a basis for success in sport, but the athlete still has to train and encourage expression of those genes. Conversely, people with performance inhibiting genes can manipulate other factors to succeed in their sport. The research on genes and their correlation to athletic skill is interesting, yet other parts of the athletic process are more important and significantly easier to manipulate. Genes can be important in the success of an athlete. There is strong evidence that variants of ACTN3 and ACE are associated with greater athletic performance in power athletes and endurance athletes, respectively. Those are the most well-studied examples, but there are many genes not included in this paper that correlate to other aspects of athletic skill. While this is an area of interest for some in the athletic community, athletic ability is best obtained through training