Response to “Athletes Genotyping: Ethical and Legal Issues”

Even though the paper by An et al. did not provide any evidence to the effect that there are genetic influences on athletic performance [[1]], it has been known for more than 20 years that genetic differences play a role in human performance [[2]]. This topic was even addressed in a book entirely devoted to the evidence accumulated on this topic [[3]]. More recently the HERITAGE Family Study has demonstrated that the genetic effects on cardiorespiratory performance were visible not only in the sedentary state [[4]], but also in the ability to respond to training [[5]]. Another group of authors point out that a common polymorphism in the alpha-actinin-3 gene could play a role in muscle power [[7]]. However, we need to have several other studies on this gene before its true significance in muscle performance can be evaluated. Other genes have also generated excitement in the past based on the results of an initial study which were not or were only weakly replicated subsequently. In this regard, the latest version of the Human Fitness and Performance Gene Map strongly suggests that one needs to distinguish between several classes of performance phenotypes and that they are all likely to be influenced by large numbers of genes [[6]].