Is athletic performance written in DNA?
In recent years, genetics has begun to reveal the key role that our genes play in physical performance, endurance, strength, aerobic capacity, training response, injury susceptibility, among others.
According to studies, it is estimated that genetic factors could explain around 66% of the difference in athletic status among individuals.
"We know that our genes influence the type of sport in which we can excel, as well as our ability to endure effort or recover from injuries," explains Adrián Turjanski, a researcher at CONICET and scientific director of Gen360. Thanks to advances in genetic research, we delve into the potential that DNA can play in sports success. These findings inspire us to achieve even more remarkable accomplishments by combining our innate talents with training and good nutrition.
In this regard, Turjanski emphasizes that, "it is exciting to discover how heritable attributes can influence and enhance success in sports. It has been shown that with appropriate training and diet, tailored to our DNA, we can achieve better results in less time. However, it is important to understand that while today we can implement much more effective diets and activities thanks to genetics, there is still much to discover."
A common problem is injuries, both in daily life and during physical activity, affecting ligaments and tendons (such as the anterior cruciate ligament, Achilles tendon, or rotator cuff tendons). The risk of suffering these injuries is conditioned by environmental factors (such as the activity performed, training level, nutrition) and genetic factors associated with differences in the composition and flexibility of ligaments and tendons. "There are genetic variants that increase the risk of ligament tears, especially the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee. Knowing this information is important for personalizing training and implementing preventive behaviors to reduce the risk of injuries," clarifies the representative of Gen360.
In this sense, genetic analyses related to sports performance are a great ally for identifying genetic variants that may influence a person's physical and physiological characteristics, and potentially their athletic performance.
Genes we should know for intensive training:
The COL1A1 gene is involved in generating type 1 collagen, which is the most abundant form of collagen in the human body. Collagen is a family of proteins that strengthen and support various tissues in the body, including bones, cartilage, tendons, and skin. Variations in the COL1A1 gene regulate the risk of tendon rupture. For this reason, it is very important to avoid repetitive and abrupt movements, and to stretch each muscle group for at least 30 seconds after training.
A very common injury is the rupture of the Achilles tendon, which is the longest and one of the strongest in the body, connecting the calf muscle to the heel bone, allowing for plantar flexion. This condition is often caused by overuse and is a relatively frequent injury in sports that require running and jumping. Repeated tension on the tendon causes microscopic damage. There are genetic variants that confer a significant risk of having this injury. Matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) is a mediator of extracellular matrix remodeling and a proposed susceptibility locus in the genetic profile of musculoskeletal injuries of soft tissues. Variants within the MMP3 gene are associated with Achilles tendon injuries.
We should know that our muscles are composed of three main types of fibers: slow-twitch, intermediate, and fast-twitch fibers. The type of muscle fiber is determined by our genes, and knowing the predominance of each type of fiber in each person allows us to gain a relative advantage in the sports we should develop or practice. In this way, individuals with a high percentage of slow fibers may have advantages in endurance-related activities, such as triathlon, running, or open water swimming. Those with a greater predominance of intermediate fibers have sufficient aerobic capacity to resist fatigue for several minutes and will have greater aptitude for intermittent or team sports, such as hockey, rugby, soccer, and basketball. Conversely, those with a greater predominance of fast fibers will benefit from performing brief and explosive activities related to speed, such as sprinting, athletics events, or throwing and weightlifting. "Knowing your muscle composition allows you to optimize your training and focus on the disciplines in which your body naturally has more advantage," comments Turjanski.
The ACTN3 gene contains instructions for producing alpha-actinin-3, a protein found in certain types of fast-twitch muscle fibers. This protein has been conserved throughout evolution, but some people have a non-functional variant of the ACTN3 gene and do not produce the protein. Individuals with the functional variant in both copies of the gene have a predominance of fast fibers, demonstrating greater ability for power sports; while the non-functional variant is found in slow fibers, which are associated with lower performance in these types of activities. The non-functional variant is observed in homozygosity in 2% of Caucasians, and most elite athletes studied have the functional ACTN3 variant and produce this protein correctly. This is why it is associated in this way.
Furthermore, our genes can influence how we obtain energy from nutrients and directly affect our athletic capacity. The PPARGC1A gene is predominantly expressed in tissues with high metabolic activity, most of which are rich in mitochondria. These include the heart, skeletal muscle (during exercise), brown fat, kidney, liver, and brain, as well as other tissues with low metabolic activity such as white adipose tissue. PPARGC1A transiently controls glucose transport, lipid and glucose oxidation, and chronically modulates the oxidative capacity of muscle. Variants in this gene are associated with greater or lesser athletic capacity.
Genetic doping, an ethical debate
Today, thanks to CRISPR, the most promising tool in gene editing that has caused a great stir in biotechnology and medicine, scientists can cut, paste, and modify genes with unprecedented precision, opening the door to curing genetic diseases that once seemed impossible. But genetic manipulation carries certain ethical and social concerns, including the fear of creating "designer babies." What happens if athletes feel tempted to use CRISPR to change their DNA to enhance their performance?
"Today that is possible, and it can happen if there are scientists willing to do it and athletes willing to pay them. While the results are still an unknown, there are many technological and ethical challenges. It is important to know that CRISPR can make mistakes and there are chances of affecting the athlete and generating terrible results. We still do not have 100% clarity that genetically manipulating to achieve precise results is safe. However, to prevent this, ways to detect possible genetic doping are already being tested," emphasizes Turjanski.
Without going to such extremes, there are alternatives to improve sports performance and optimize our capabilities. DNA tests that are very useful for athletes and ordinary people serve to understand how their genetics influences physical capacity and sports performance. This innovative test, endorsed by laboratories across the country and supported by health professionals, offers a unique window to optimize training and prevent injuries because it analyzes key genes that affect characteristics such as muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and susceptibility to injuries, allowing for personalized training designs according to each individual's genetic characteristics.