Genetic Influences On Muscle Oxygen Kinetics & Performance

SNPS, Muscle Fiber Composition, and Talent Identification

In discussions about an individual's oxygen kinetic profiles we'll often hear talk of different energetic limitations, rates of maximal oxygen extraction, maximal vasodilator capacity of skeletal muscle, and muscle fiber composition. Seldom do discussions of an individual's genetics come into play. The reasons for this are likely twofold: 

1. Direct-to-consumer genetic testing products are of varying quality, and much of the information gleaned through these services are based on genome wide association studies that have little predictive value for consumers. 
   

2. The influence of an individual's genetic makeup on athletic performance is not entirely clear. This is partly due to the fact that a superior genotype does not guarantee a superior phenotype, as discussed in a previous article. This is further skewed by the fact that sports performance is so multifaceted, that the effect or specific genes (or lack thereof) can easily be washed out by other factors that influence performance like envi…