Genetics and sports:
How might personal genetics transform
athletics?
Personal Genetics Education Project (pgEd)
Harvard Medical School
www.pged.org
What might a “sports gene test” tell us?
www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/sports/30genetics.html
personal genetics education project
Do Now
Answer the following questions:
Do you wish your parents had genetically tested
you as a child to see if there is a certain sport at
which you might excel, or to see if you had a
special gift for musical ability? Why or why not?
What could be a benefit and what could be a
disadvantage to knowing this at an early age?
(Note: There is a test for a “sports gene,” though a test for
musical ability does not exist)
Image via NYT/Chang W. Lee
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
What leads to excellence in sports:
Genes? Environment? Training? Drive?
Image via www.womanzworld.com
Image via nhl.com
Examples of a connection between genetics
and athletics
• There is a version of the so-called “speed” gene
ACTN3 that may be linked to sprinting ability. Most
elite sprinters have at least one copy of this version.
• A small study indicates a possible link between
having the ApoE4 version of the gene and increased
risk of severe effects from a concussion.
• How much can these genes predict? (genetics vs.
environment)
personal genetics education project
Michael Phelps and
Usain Bolt:
Do their genes make
them different?
Photo via www.michaelphelps.net
Photo: Matt Dunham AP
personal genetics education project
“Speed gene”: ACTN3
• The gene ACTN3 produces a protein – a-actinin 3 - that
helps contractions occur in fast-twitch muscle fibers
• There is a version of ACTN3 linked to sprinting ability.
• ~95% of elite sprinters have at least one copy of this
version of the gene.
• ~80% of general population also has at least one copy of
this version also.
personal genetics education project
Direct-to-consumer testing for sports
•Companies are currently selling tests that look for these
variants and others to try to predict a
person’s
risk for sports injuries and athletic ability.
•Target audiences are athletes, parents, coaches and
trainers.
•There is much controversy about how predictive of
athletic ability these tests really are and how
forthcoming companies have been in disclosing what
the test may reveal (link between ApoE4 variant and
increased Alzheimer’s risk).
personal genetics education project
Discussion questions:
•Is genetic testing to predict performance useful? Fair? How fine is
the line between testing for injury prevention and testing for
performance potential?
•Fixing a torn tendon or a broken bone is uncontroversial. What
about improving on an already healthy muscle, tendon, eyeball,
etc.? Is this the logical next step?
•How do we decide for which medical/disease traits we screen
athletes? What are the priorities?
personal genetics education project