(An old post of mine….)

DNA BANK OF TALENTED ATHLETES

The Taipei Physical Education College (TPEC) plans to collect the saliva of exceptional (Taiwanese) athletes, like New York Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, so that their DNA can be analyzed for super-athletic genes. The TPEC Ace Athlete Genome Bank already has DNA from Taiwanese athletes who’ve won Olympic medals. Taekwondo fighter Chen Shi-Hsin has been found to have the insertion (I) polymorphism of the angiotensin converting enzyme gene (ACE), typically found in male athletes. ACE plays a role in regulating blood pressure and fluid-electrolyte balance.

Professor Hsu Tai-Ke wants to use genetic analysis to identify other children who have the potential become a “second Wang Chien-Ming.” Such a simplistic view of the genome and human behavior. I’m guessing Chien-Ming Wang’s parents (who’re biologically his aunt and uncle) would like to think they had some influence over his success in baseball. And his coaches would probably like to claim some credit too. Chien-Ming knows more than anyone that we’re more than just our genes:

In Taiwan there’s a saying: ‘Raising a child is more important than giving birth. Raising a child is greater.’

Athletes would probably be better served by having available comprehensive screening for genetic disorders that might impair their health during athletic events. Marfan’s syndrome is the most famous in this light, since it claimed volleyball athlete Flo Hyman, but there will certainly be an increasing number of such markers found.

Are psychological variables not included in this? I was under the impression that psychological factors greatly contributed to performance outcomes (almost as much as the physical attributes).

By the way, I proudly stand behind my statement

I am very aware of the beta blocker situation for classical musicians. And truthfully, I think its horrible.

Doctors were prescribing beta blocker meds to my fellow music students in university.

If you are having performance anxiety playing in front of other students (and not actual audiences) then guess what….performance should not be your career choice.

If your hands shake so badly, or you have problems breathing so you cant reach that ‘C’
then maybe check out some other line of work.

Is it really worth being on meds to go on stage?

Teachers recommending students to go on beta blockers?? This unfortunately is not unusual. Many students that I studied alongside were on these meds either because their teacher was, or because the teacher recommended that they do so. It’s sickening. But very common. All you need is one doctor to hand out slips, in a small university town.

Maybe teachers should start introducing meditation into their lessons, that might give an actual tool that students can rely on!

Now most of my own students are not quite at the stage to experience that kind of anxiety. They still love to show off! But if any of them did, we would work together to find a natural solution. I won’t be driving them to my doctor. I would rather they sit that performance out.

Thanks Hsien, for getting me all fired up this morning. I believe my coworkers are going to find me to be a little ummm passionate this morning.

Laura does have a point. Psychology still has an influence. You may have all the genetic traits of a great athlete, but if you lack the will, it’s pretty much useless.

OK one last thing.

If you need to take something (beta blocker, steroid , whatever) to enhance your “art”.

Your “art” is fake!

Tell that to Kary Mullis Does that make PCR fake?
-Steve
http://www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

[...] fact is, Hsien lured me into an  interesting discussion about performance enhancing drugs, and this was solely responsible for my surge of energy.   The discussion happened in the early [...]

I found an interview from Rolling Stone with John Lennon. He is asked whether LSD has affected his conception of music.

His response:

It was only another mirror. It wasn’t a miracle. It was more of a visual thing and a therapy, looking at yourself a bit. It did all that. You know, I don’t quite remember. But it didn’t write the music. I write the music in the circumstances in which I’m in, whether it’s on acid or in the water

Whether the drugs wrote the music or not, it gave him another angle to write from. One that would probably never have been discovered had he had not been taking LSD.

The drug was an “enhancement”, and while I am not disputing the fact that Lennon was a genius. Would he have still been regarded as much of one, if LSD or any other drug had not entered the picture. Or would The Beatles have produced songs like “Love Me Do” for their whole existence as a band.

Mental illness is an interesting issue. I would be interested to study the differences of an artist (who suffers from mental illness) and creates when they have been treated with meds, and when they haven’t been treated. I bet there is a big difference. And would these artists consider what they are creating as “art”, when meds are a factor.

I’ll have to check this show out.

[...] Dr. Barry Star at the QUEST Community Science Blog looks at athletes and gene doping. Here’s my look at the situation - Athletes and Their DNA. [...]