4 ms·

Gene for running faster: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2017.01080/full https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2017.0108... Amu

Gene for running faster: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2017.01080/full https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2017.0108... Amusingly, it is literally what you are writing about. Certain variants of that gene confer exactly a) better recovery b) sports injury resistance c) fast twitch fiber synthesis. Simply because we have not pinpointed something with laser precision, propagated the knowledge to every human with internet access and papered it up with indisputable evidence strong enough to pacify the eternally-online exception finders and fact checkers - does not mean such things do not exist. You are your genes. just a tiny 2% difference - and you would end up a dolphin.

Toutouxc 5y ago
> just a tiny 2% difference - and you would end up a dolphin This is weirdly specific and I'm pretty sure my brain is going to remember this and bring it up on random occasions for the next ten years.
raverbashing 5y ago
Sure, that's one gene that helps. Saying that you only need that to get to a podium would be a stretch. And there might be other genes. Someone missing this beneficial change might have other helpful mutations. As even the article points > In addition, whilst Kenyan and Ethiopian endurance runners are highly successful (Wilber and Pitsiladis, 2012), the frequency of the XX genotype within this group is very low at 8% (Ethiopian) and 1% (Kenyan) (Yang et al., 2007) (XX is the endurance variation) Or are you saying that Track programs should genetically test for this gene and drop whoever doesn't have it?
- bart_spoon 5y ago
  > Or are you saying that Track programs should genetically test for this gene and drop whoever doesn't have it? They don't have to. There is almost certainly a lot of self-selection going on. Anecdotally, I got one of those genetic kit tests done 10 years ago, and it included results on a "fast-twitch vs slow twitch muscle gene". I, who was a sprinter in high school who struggles immensely with long distance running, unsurprisingly have the gene for fast-twitch muscles. My wife, who has never participated in any kind of sport involving sprinting at any level but competes in long-distance races, unsurprisingly has the slow-twitch gene. Neither of us had any of these genetic tests available when we got involved in these activities. We just learned over time what we were naturally good at and what we struggled with. Does it mean that I can never run long-distance at the level my wife does, or that she could never have competed in sprinting? Maybe, but not necessarily. However if possible, it would take far, far more effort than sticking with the things we are good at. Between people gravitating to what comes naturally, and other filters (like making or being cut from a track or XC team), a lot of the genetic filtering already occurs without actual testing.

Toutouxc 5y ago

> just a tiny 2% difference - and you would end up a dolphin This is weirdly specific and I'm pretty sure my brain is going to remember this and bring it up on random occasions for the next ten years.

raverbashing 5y ago

Sure, that's one gene that helps. Saying that you only need that to get to a podium would be a stretch. And there might be other genes. Someone missing this beneficial change might have other helpful mutations. As even the article points > In addition, whilst Kenyan and Ethiopian endurance runners are highly successful (Wilber and Pitsiladis, 2012), the frequency of the XX genotype within this group is very low at 8% (Ethiopian) and 1% (Kenyan) (Yang et al., 2007) (XX is the endurance variation) Or are you saying that Track programs should genetically test for this gene and drop whoever doesn't have it?

bart_spoon 5y ago
> Or are you saying that Track programs should genetically test for this gene and drop whoever doesn't have it? They don't have to. There is almost certainly a lot of self-selection going on. Anecdotally, I got one of those genetic kit tests done 10 years ago, and it included results on a "fast-twitch vs slow twitch muscle gene". I, who was a sprinter in high school who struggles immensely with long distance running, unsurprisingly have the gene for fast-twitch muscles. My wife, who has never participated in any kind of sport involving sprinting at any level but competes in long-distance races, unsurprisingly has the slow-twitch gene. Neither of us had any of these genetic tests available when we got involved in these activities. We just learned over time what we were naturally good at and what we struggled with. Does it mean that I can never run long-distance at the level my wife does, or that she could never have competed in sprinting? Maybe, but not necessarily. However if possible, it would take far, far more effort than sticking with the things we are good at. Between people gravitating to what comes naturally, and other filters (like making or being cut from a track or XC team), a lot of the genetic filtering already occurs without actual testing.