Resources tagged as "Genetics"
Nature versus Nurture
May 30th, 2010
Can we use genetic analysis to predict who will become an elite athlete? No one knows for sure, according to David Epstein from Sports Illustrated. While scientists have identified genes that boost endurance, motivation, or fast-twitch muscles, there is no genetic way to predict who among those with such genes will become a champion. For example, dominant East African runners have the endurance gene, but so do most Europeans, who haven't performed as well in distance events. The East Africans, meanwhile, start running great distances at an early age, in contrast to their European counterparts. Thus, nature might give you the building blocks for success, but nurture is what ultimately produces elite athletes.
By IntelliSport