title: Identification of genetic markers for skill and athleticism in sub-elite Australian football players: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Natural genetic variation contributes towards athletic performance in various strength/power and endurance based sports. To date, no studies have explored the genetic predisposition towards skill and athletic performance in Australian Football (AF) players.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present pilot study recruited 30 sub-elite AF players who completed tests of endurance, power and technical skill. Specific polymorphisms in nine genes were screened, and assessed for a possible association with athletic and skill traits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis using generalized linear models identified a number of polymorphisms predictive of endurance and technical skill. The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), normally responsible for regulation of body fluid volume, was a significant factor in predicting 'all round' athletic performance and skill. Specifically, the deletion allele (DD) of ACE was identified as a predictor for AF power (P≤0.008), endurance (P=0.001) and skill assessments (P≤0.003). In addition, polymorphisms in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor, D2 dopamine receptor, and catechol-O-methyltransferase genes were also shown to contribute to kicking skill outcomes (P≤0.044).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to implicate the ACE deletion allele for a multidimensional sport in such a way. Further, the results from this study have identified several new candidate genes in predicting athletic and technical skill outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia.
authors.forename: Ysabel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cripps
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia.|School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia.
authors.forename: Tess
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia.|Institute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia.
authors.forename: Paola T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Chivers
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Joyce
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia - ryan.anderton@nd.edu.au.|Institute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia.
authors.forename: Ryan S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Anderton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001315:Australia; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase; C488034:ACE protein, human; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A