Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Exercise and Muscle Performance

Exercise and Muscle Performance

Exercise induces a range of adaptations in muscle tissue, depending on the type and duration of activity. Such physical training can be broadly categorized into two types: endurance exercises and resistance exercises.
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...

Overview of Skeletal Muscle

Overview of Skeletal Muscle

Skeletal muscles are composed of a bundle of muscle fibers and are attached to bones through tendons. Each skeletal muscle fiber is a single muscle cell. The sarcolemma, the plasma membrane of a skeletal muscle cell, consists of a lipid bilayer and glycocalyx that supports muscle fibers. The sarcolemma extends into the muscle cells to form tubular structures called transverse or T-tubules. Each side of the T-tubules consists of a membrane-bound structure called the sarcoplasmic reticulum,...

Exercise and Cardiovascular Response

Exercise and Cardiovascular Response

Exercise significantly impacts cardiovascular response, which is crucial for understanding patient health and designing effective treatment plans.
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...

Animal Mitochondrial Genetics

Animal Mitochondrial Genetics

Among all the organelles in an animal cell, only mitochondria have their own independent genomes. Animal mitochondrial DNA is a double-stranded, closed-circular molecule with around 20,000 base pairs. Mitochondrial DNA is unique in that one of its two strands, the heavy, or H, -strand is guanine rich, whereas the complementary strand is cytosine rich and called the light, or L, -strand. Compared to nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA has a very low percentage of non-coding regions and is marked by...

Muscle Recovery and Fatigue

Muscle Recovery and Fatigue

Muscle fatigue refers to the decline in a muscle's ability to maintain the force of contraction after prolonged activity. It primarily stems from changes within muscle fibers. Even before experiencing muscle fatigue, one may feel tired and have the urge to stop the activity. This response, known as central fatigue, occurs due to changes in the central nervous system, namely the brain and spinal cord. While there is no single mechanism that induces fatigue, it may serve as a protective response...

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

EPAS1 is associated with human muscle fiber composition and endurance phenotypes.

Physiological reports·2026

Same author

How should we study the impact of professional sport on female longevity?

GeroScience·2026

Same author

RAB3GAP2 is a regulator of skeletal muscle endothelial cell proliferation and associated with capillary-to-fiber ratio.

Cell reports·2026

Same author

Impact of Exercise Modalities on Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Muscles (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Effects of Exercise Addiction and the <i>COL1A1</i> Gene rs1800012 Polymorphism on Injury Susceptibility in Elite Female Volleyball Players.

Genes·2025

Same author

Causal relationships between sarcopenia, frailty, and health outcomes: A systematic review of Mendelian randomization studies.

Experimental gerontology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People

Published on: July 5, 2017

Genes, athlete status and training -- An overview.

Ildus I Ahmetov, Viktor A Rogozkin

Medicine and Sport Science

|August 22, 2009

Summary

Genetic research reveals numerous DNA markers linked to elite athletic status and training responses. These findings may enable personalized exercise and lifestyle plans for improved health and sports performance.

Area of Science:

Sports Science
Human Genetics
Molecular Biology

Background:

Accumulating evidence highlights the significant role of genetic factors in determining human physical performance.
Understanding genetic variations is crucial for explaining inter-individual differences in athletic capabilities and responses to training.

Purpose of the Study:

To review and report findings from genetic studies investigating DNA polymorphisms associated with elite athlete status.
To identify genetic markers that may explain variability in physical performance in response to endurance and strength training.

Main Methods:

Comprehensive literature search of genetic studies focusing on DNA polymorphisms.
Analysis of associations between identified genetic markers and elite athlete status.

More Related Videos

Endurance Training Protocol and Longitudinal Performance Assays for Drosophila melanogaster

Endurance Training Protocol and Longitudinal Performance Assays for Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: March 26, 2012

Human Skeletal Muscle Biopsy Procedures Using the Modified Bergström Technique

Human Skeletal Muscle Biopsy Procedures Using the Modified Bergström Technique

Published on: September 10, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People

Published on: July 5, 2017

Endurance Training Protocol and Longitudinal Performance Assays for Drosophila melanogaster

Endurance Training Protocol and Longitudinal Performance Assays for Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: March 26, 2012

Human Skeletal Muscle Biopsy Procedures Using the Modified Bergström Technique

Human Skeletal Muscle Biopsy Procedures Using the Modified Bergström Technique

Published on: September 10, 2014

Examination of genetic markers linked to inter-individual differences in training responses.

Main Results:

At least 36 genetic markers across 20 autosomal genes, mitochondrial DNA, and the Y-chromosome are associated with elite athlete status.
39 genetic markers within 19 genes and mitochondrial DNA may partially explain variations in physical performance characteristics following training.
Preliminary data indicate potential genetic influences on both endurance and strength training adaptations.

Conclusions:

Genetic research provides a growing foundation for understanding the biological underpinnings of athletic excellence.
Specific genetic markers show promise in predicting elite athlete status and individual training responses.
Further replication studies are necessary, but findings suggest potential for personalized exercise prescriptions for health and performance optimization.