Heredity/AthleticAbility

CatrinaSimons Howandhowmuchdoyourgeneticsinfluenceyourathleticability? Geneticshaveasignificantinfluenceonthewayweperformathletically.Forinstance, genesthatmaylimitathleticability,andgenesthathavedetermineanindividual'sstrengthall haveanimpactonthewayweperformphysically,andhowtrainingandconditioningcan overcomebadgenetics. Howcangeneslimitourathleticability? Onemajorlimitationforathletesistheheartsabilitytodeliveroxygentoyourmuscles. Goingoffofthat,anotherlimitationforanathlete'senduranceisthemuscletissuesinabilityto useoxygen&ATP,thefuelallowsmuscularcontractionandmovement.Theselimitationsare causedbygeneticsandcanbeagoodorbadgeneticinheritance.(Melia,Mike,May,2010) Whatgenesdeterminestrength? Geneticsdetermineourfastandslowtwitchmuscles.Fasttwitchiswhatgenerates shortburstsofenergy,strength&speedbutfatiguesfaster.Slowtwitchcontractsslowly, providingenduranceratherthanstrength.Individualswithahighproportionofslowtwitchmuscle fiberswillberelativelyweakerthanasimilarindividualwithahighproportionoffasttwitchfibers, butwouldhaveagreaterinherentcapacityforphysicalendurance.(Quinn,Elizabeth,Feb.2010) Howwouldtrainingandconditioningoverrulegenetics? Heredityplaysalargeroleinthepotentialofhumanbeingstoachievepeaklevelsof performanceincertainareas.Itsunlikelythatsomeonewithshortarms,smalllungcapacityand heavyupperbodywouldeverbeachampionswimmer,althoughwiththerighttrainingcouldhelp some.Also,theshort,heavypersonwouldhaveamuchhigherstrengthpotentialforsportslike weightliftingthanaslender,tallchampionswimmer.Withotherfactorssuchasspeed,youcould bebornwithbadgenetics,buttherighttrainingcouldbringupforabilitytorunfast.(Hopkins,Will G,Apr,2011) Conclusion Inconclusion,geneticscanhaveasevereimpactonathleticability.However,withthe righttrainingandconditioning,withbadgenetics,yourathleticabilitycouldbeatthesamelevelof anathletewithgoodgenetics.Somelimitations,ontheother,cannotbeimprovedwithtraining likeyourlungcapacityandsuch.

 WorksCited Hopkins,WillG."GenesandTrainingforAthleticPerformance."GenesandTrainingforAthletic Performance.N.p.,Apr.2001.Web.11Mar.2014. http://sportsci.org/jour/0101/wghgene.htm Melia,Mike."GeneticsandAthletics:IsItinYou?"PBS.PBS,12May2010.Web.24Mar.2014. <http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/geneticsandathleticsisitinyou/>. Quinn,Elizabeth."AreAthletesBornorBuilt?HowGeneticsInfluenceAthleticAbility."About.com SportsMedicine.N.p.,7Feb.2010.Web.19Mar.2014. http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/anatomyandphysiology/a/genetics.htm