Find out your 'sport' gene for €189

sideswipe

Well folks what do ye think- Gene Test

Gimmick or Great idea?

TRR

They are basically screening nine genes with known associations to exercise performance. Below is taken from their website.

1 Power and Fatigue = ACTN3
2 Lactate levels = MCT1
3 VO2max = HIF1
4 Body Fat = ADRB2
5 Strength = DIO1-D1a
6 Strength = DIO1-D1b
7 Exercise Blood Pressure = NOS3
8 Aerobic Fitness = PPARGC1A
9 Muscle Efficiency = ACE
10 Endurance Performance = EPOR

I guess it would be interesting to find out but I personally wouldn't be willing to shell out the money for it as there are so many other variables at play and some that could easily trump these nine genes. Good luck to them though!

sideswipe

I'd be temped to do it, but not at that price.

I remember reading years ago about kids in China being tested and 'encouraged' in sports that suit their natural ability, there was a lot of condemnation at the time. It seems it's a lot more main stream now. Theres an interesting article about kids gene testing in the US.

there are so many other variables at play and some that could easily trump these nine genes.

Just a matter of interest TRR, what variables do you reckon would trump them? I have a feeling that if I were to be tested and a list of sports given to me that best suit my genetics, long distance running would not be on that list:rolleyes:

Clearlier

sideswipe wrote: »

I'd be temped to do it, but not at that price.

I remember reading years ago about kids in China being tested and 'encouraged' in sports that suit their natural ability, there was a lot of condemnation at the time. It seems it's a lot more main stream now. Theres an interesting article about kids gene testing in the US.



Just a matter of interest TRR, what variables do you reckon would trump them? I have a feeling that if I were to be tested and a list of sports given to me that best suit my genetics, long distance running would not be on that list:rolleyes:

It would be more interesting to get the views of somebody who does research in this field or has an expert knowledge of it but my understanding is that our knowledge of genetics and the associated field of epigenetics is still in its infancy. At a genetic level we have a very limited idea of what genes will deliver what performance. Genes are not the only determining factors. Add in that there's nothing much you can do about it and I kind of wonder what the point of it all is. Perhaps if there was screening for diseases which you could adapt your environment to help you avoid or if we understood genes enough to be able to tell you the optimal way to train but I don't think that we're anywhere near that level of understanding yet.

LloydChristmas

I think these things are more for novelty than to base any life changing decisions upon...In the example of a long distance runner, there certainly exists a glass ceiling for runners above which improvemnet ends. However, the vast majority of people will never go close to that.