Genetics and Genomics in Sports

Any individual can enhance his/her performance by engaging in deliberate practice and training during optimal periods of development. Nonetheless, the initial level of performance at first exposure to a sport varies greatly between individuals, as some individuals show a higher response to training than others. Furthermore, some athletes are repeatedly afflicted with injuries, but some athletes are not injured at all. Numerous twin and family studies have demonstrated that genetic factors contribute significantly to the variation in physical performance. Further, it has been demonstrated that several genetic variants significantly affect the susceptibility of sports-related injuries. Since an insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism in the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene (ACE) was first reported to have an impact on human physical performance, numerous studies have attempted to identify genetic variants influencing sports performance. To date, at least 100 genetic markers have been reported to be linked to the status of an athlete’s endurance, and at least 69 genetic markers have been reported to be linked to the status of an athlete’s power. Nevertheless, there is limited evidence of the genetic factors involved in sports performance and vulnerability to sport-related injuries in Asian populations. In order to perform genetic testing for individual training to improve sport performance and reduce injury risk, reliable and valid evidence is required, in addition to careful consideration of ethical issues. To achieve such individualized training in Japanese athletes, we need to develop a strong scientific foundation on this topic in the Asian population through large-scale collaborative projects.