12 - Genetics and Athletic Performance
Assessment Statement Notes
12.1 Outline the role of genes in the
inheritance of human
characteristics
12.2 Outline how genes can influence
human characteristics
12.3 Discuss the relative contribution of
genetic and environmental factors
on performance in different sports
Limit to the following:
- Chromosomes are mainly made of
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA),
sections of which are referred to as
genes
- DNA undergoes replication as part
of cell division to pass on the genes
to new cells
- Children inherit genes from their
parents via the sex cells (gametes),
with 50% from the mother and 50%
from the father. Many millions of
different combinations of these
genes from the same parents are
possible
- Human characteristics (or
phenotype) are determined by their
genes (the genotype)
- Some characteristics are expressed
developmentally by genes (for
example, eye colour, gender), others
also require an environmental
switch (for example, height, VO2
max)
Limit to the following:
Characteristics that are influenced by
genetics include height, muscle fiber type,
anaerobic threshold, lung capacity and
flexibility.
Environmental factors that also influence
performance include physical training,
nutrition, technological aids and climate.
Training maximizes the likelihood of
obtaining a performance level with a
genetically controlled ceiling
Elite athletes can be distinguished from less
well-performing athletes with respect to
both inherited (Genetic) characteristics and
training histories
It is presently not possible to ascertain the
relative contribution of genetics or training
 to elite sporting performance, and this
contribution is likely to differ for different
sports

12.4 Discuss the implications of genetic Consider:

screening for sports, exercise and - The identification of life-threatening
health conditions such as the risk of
sudden cardiac death, connective
tissue disorder
- The potential to predict
susceptibility to injury and so
reduce risk/improve safety for an
individual athlete
- Ethical implications of involuntary
exclusion from, or discrimination in,
one or more sports
- Ethical implications of
discrimination beyond sport, for
example, in employment the
possibility of gene doping in the
future to improve athletic
performance

12.1 - Outline the role of genes in the inheritance of human characteristics

- Children inherit genes from their parents via the sex cells (gametes), with 50% from
the mother and 50% from the father
- Human characteristics (or phenotype) are determined by their genes (the genotype)
- Some characteristics are expressed developmentally by genes (ex. eye colour), others
require an environmental switch (ex. height, VO₂ max)

12.2 - Outline how genes can influence human characteristics

- Genes code the production of proteins which are responsible for the development of
an individual
- They can be switched on or off depending on internal or external factors
↳ certain characteristics can change during a person’s lifetime
- Genes determine the heritable characteristics for each individual
12.3 - Discuss the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors on performance
in different sports

Factors that are influenced by genetics:

- Height
- Muscle fiber type
- Anaerobic threshold
- Lung capacity
- Flexibility

Environmental Factors:
- Physical training
- Nutrition
- Technological aids
- Climate

→ elite athletes can be distinguished from other athletes with respect to both inherited
characteristics and training history

12.4 - Discuss the implications of genetic screening for sports, exercise and health

Advantages Disadvantages

- identification of life-threatening - it is expensive and can cause inequality in

conditions such as the risk of sudden society (only available to the rich)
cardiac death - can be considered unethical or unfair
- you can be given genes that your parents (possible gene doping)
don’t have - can damage the overall gene pool
- potential to predict susceptibility to injury
and so reduce risk/improve safety for an
individual athlete