Genetics of Fitness and Physical Performance is the first comprehensive reference on the role of the genes in influencing individual variation in fitness and performance. This essential compendium reviews the past 25 years of accumulated evidence on the genetic basis of health- and performance-related fitness phenotypes. Focusing on the interests of sport scientists, the authors provide insight into the significance of this research on nearly every aspect of the study of human physical activity. The book presents the biological basis of heredity and explains the concepts and methods of genetic epidemiology and molecular biology that are necessary to understand this specialized field. With the rapid advances in molecular biology and the paradigms of human genetics, exercise scientists face a dynamic and vibrant new field. This book offers readers new opportunities to better understand atherosclerosis, noninsulin dependent diabetes, obesity, and hypertension by searching for single gene effects and identifying susceptibility genes. The authors review the evidence on the role of the genes for human traits as it pertains to the exercise science field. And they explore the scientific, practical, and ethical issues that confront exercise scientists as progress is made in this field. Genetics of Fitness and Physical Performance is vital reading for scholars in the field of exercise and sport science to understand how recent discoveries in genetics might shape their future research.

The New York Times bestseller – with a new afterword about early specialization in youth sports – from the author of Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. The debate is as old as physical competition. Are stars like Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, and Serena Williams genetic freaks put on Earth to dominate their respective sports? Or are they simply normal people who overcame their biological limits through sheer force of will and obsessive training? In this controversial and engaging exploration of athletic success and the so-called 10,000-hour rule, David Epstein tackles the great nature vs. nurture debate and traces how far science has come in solving it. Through on-the-ground reporting from below the equator and above the Arctic Circle, revealing conversations with leading scientists and Olympic champions, and interviews with athletes who have rare genetic mutations or physical traits, Epstein forces us to rethink the very nature of athleticism.

The 4th edition of the Oxford Textbook of Children's Sport and Exercise Medicine is the definitive single-volume reference in the field presented in four sections Exercise Science; Exercise Medicine; Sport Science; and Sport Medicine.

This publication reviews past, current and future applications of genetic research in the fields of exercise science and sports medicine. It highlights ethical concerns, potential clinical applications and exploitation of genetic information. The authors, an interdisciplinary group of experts comprising clinicians, exercise scientists, human geneticists and other biological scientists, present an integrated and holistic understanding of the field to the reader. Several chapters of the book address the issue of nature and nurture in determining athletic ability and etiology of sports injuries. Other chapters are dealing with genetics and performance research during premolecular and molecular biology eras, gene-lifestyle interactions and their consequences on health, as well as genetic risk factors in musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries. Finally, the possible application of gene therapy in athletes, gene doping and genetic testing of athletes are discussed. The book is highly recommended to exercise scientists, sports clinicians, human geneticists, athletes, coaches and to all those interested in the relatively new area of genetic research within the fields of exercise science and sports medicine.

Sports, Exercise, and Nutritional Genomics: Current Status and Future Directions is the first reference volume to offer a holistic examination of omics-driven advances across different aspects of exercise and sports physiology, biochemistry, sports medicine, psychology, anthropology, and sports nutrition; and highlighting the opportunities towards advance personalized training and athlete health management. More than 70 international experts from 14 countries have discussed key exercise and sport-related themes through the prism of genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, telomere biology, talent in sport, individual differences in response to regular physical activity, that in the future may empower coaches, sports physicians, fitness experts, genetic counselors, and translational scientists to employ various omics data and approaches in improving health and physical performance of people participating in sports and exercise activities. Contributors address current knowledge of genetic influence on athletic performance, individual responses to exercise training, as well as the genetics of musculoskeletal phenotypes, exercise-related injuries, flexibility, and neurodegenerative disorders in athletes. Finally, performance-related and psychological traits associated with epigenetic, transcriptomic and metagenomic biomarkers are also considered, along with nutritional and pharmacogenomic aids in sports medicine and personalized nutrition. Effectively synthesizes key themes across molecular aspects of exercise and sports sciences Provides a knowledge base for future translation of omics solutions to talent identification, individualized training, and nutrition Features contributions from international experts (researchers and clinicians) in the subject area

This second edition of Genetics and Sports expands on topics previously discussed in an attempt to create an integrated and holistic understanding of the field of sports genomics. It is an update on technologies and on the role of genetics in training, performance, injury, and other exercise-related phenotypes. Ethical concerns and the importance of counselling before and after genetic testing are also addressed. It is increasingly important to understand the field of genetics and sports because of the potential to use and misuse information. All exercise scientists, sport and exercise clinicians, athletes, and coaches need to be adequately informed to ensure that genetic information is accurately and properly used. Genetics and Sports is, therefore, highly recommended to all of these groups.

Technological advances over the last two decades have placed genetic research at the forefront of sport and exercise science. It provides potential answers to some of contemporary sport and exercise’s defining issues and throws up some of the area’s most challenging ethical questions, but to date, it has rested on a fragmented and disparate literature base. The Routledge Handbook of Sport and Exercise Systems Genetics constitutes the most authoritative and comprehensive reference in this critical area of study, consolidating knowledge and providing a framework for interpreting future research findings. Taking an approach which covers single gene variations, through genomics, epigenetics, and proteomics, to environmental and dietary influences on genetic mechanisms, the book is divided into seven sections. It examines state-of-the-art genetic methods, applies its approach to physical activity, exercise endurance, muscle strength, and sports performance, and discusses the ethical considerations associated with genetic research in sport and exercise. Made up of contributions from some of the world’s leading sport and exercise scientists and including chapters on important topical issues such as gene doping, gender testing, predicting sport performance and injury risk, and using genetic information to inform physical activity and health debates, the handbook is a vital addition to the sport and exercise literature. It is an important reference for any upper-level student, researcher, or practitioner working in the genetics of sport and exercise or exercise physiology, and crucial reading for any social scientist interested in the ethics of sport.