Athletics & Exercise
Athletic performance is based on both genetics and the time and dedication you put in to practicing your sport.
Research shows that at the elite level, genetic variants that impact muscle composition make a difference.
There is also a strong genetic component involved in the motivation to exercise.
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Sore Muscles
Do you end up getting sore after pretty much every work out at the gym? It could be that a deficiency caused by the AMPD1 genetic variant is the cause.
Athletic Performance
If you are at the top of your sport and looking to optimize, genetics does come into play with muscle composition and endurance.
ACTN3: Muscle Type
The ACTN3 gene codes for actinin alpha-3, a protein found in muscles. Some people don't produce this protein, which changes the composition of their muscles.
Motivation to Exercise
A new study in the journal Behavioral Brain Research paints a fascinating picture of why some people are more motivated to exercise. The study looked at the dopaminergic system to see how people’s genetic variants could alter the ‘reinforcing value’ of exercise.