The Investigation of Relationship Between Sporting Performance and Mitochondria and Genes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sports performance and mitochondria and gene. The study included the summarization of the studies registered in Pubmed-Central, Pubmed and Google Scholar internet databases. Sporting performance is a multifactorial phenomenon that is affected by most factors. Genetics, which are candidate to be one of these factors, may have a significant power on sports performance. So far, many genetic markers have been identified for the relationship between sport and genetics. These can be localized in the autosome, gonosome chromosomes and mitochondria. Mitochondria is a double-layered cell organelle with its own DNA, RNA, and ribosome. mtDNA has both fewer nucleotides and a smaller amount of genes compared to DNA in the nucleus. However, genes in mtDNA may be critical to athletic performance. At the end of the study, it was determined that haplogroups and some polymorphisms in mtDNA may be important regulators on sports performance. This can significantly determine the low, medium and high intensity performance characteristics of athletes. As a result, genes in mtDNA may have significant effects on athletes' endurance capacities by influencing mitochondrial biogenesis. Conducting clinical studies based on robust methodologies in this field may make valuable contributions to sports sciences.