ABSTRACT
In this chapter we will cover sport and exercise genetics or kinesiogenomics, which can be defined as the application of genetics to sport and exercise-related traits. Sporting performance depends on nature and nurture or, to use more specific terms, on:
x genetics (i.e. inherited and newly occurring variations in the DNA sequence, also referred to as innate talent) and
x environmental factors (i.e. factors such as training and nutrition). e degree to which genetics and environmental factors affect sporting performance or other sport and exercise-related traits varies depending on the trait. For example, the contribution of genetics (the heritability estimate) to V
. O2max is ≈50% (Bouchard
et al., 1999). is means that ≈50% of the variation in V . O2max values can be explained
by genetic or DNA sequence variations and the other ≈50% is due to environmental factors such as endurance training or diet. us in order to achieve the high V
. O2max val-
ues seen in some Olympic endurance athletes it is necessary for an athlete to both carry
DNA sequence variations that code for a high basal V . O2max and V
. O2max trainability and
to train hard. No one has phrased this better than Per-Olof Åstrand, who is reported to have said ‘the most important thing an aspiring athlete can do is to choose the right parents’.
