Kinesiogenomics refers to the study of
genetics
Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms.Hartl D, Jones E (2005) It is an important branch in biology because heredity is vital to organisms' evolution. Gregor Mendel, a Moravian Augustinian friar wor ...
in the various disciplines of the field of
kinesiology
Kinesiology () is the scientific study of human body movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, anatomical, biomechanical, pathological, neuropsychological principles and mechanisms of movement. Applications of kinesiology to human health ...
, the study of human movement. The field has also been referred to as "
exercise
Exercise is a body activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness.
It is performed for various reasons, to aid growth and improve strength, develop muscles and the cardiovascular system, hone athletic ...
genomics
Genomics is an interdisciplinary field of biology focusing on the structure, function, evolution, mapping, and editing of genomes. A genome is an organism's complete set of DNA, including all of its genes as well as its hierarchical, three-dim ...
" or "exercisenomics." Areas of study within kinesiogenomics include the role of gene sequence variation (i.e.,
alleles
An allele (, ; ; modern formation from Greek ἄλλος ''állos'', "other") is a variation of the same sequence of nucleotides at the same place on a long DNA molecule, as described in leading textbooks on genetics and evolution.
::"The chro ...
) in sport performance, identification of
genes
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a ba ...
(and their different alleles) that contribute to the response and adaptation of the body's tissue systems (e.g., muscles, heart, metabolism, etc.) to various exercise-related stimuli, the use of
genetic testing
Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, is used to identify changes in DNA sequence or chromosome structure. Genetic testing can also include measuring the results of genetic changes, such as RNA analysis as an output of gene expression, or ...
to predict sport performance or individualize exercise prescription, and
gene doping
Gene doping is the hypothetical non-therapeutic use of gene therapy by athletes in order to improve their performance in those sporting events which prohibit such applications of genetic modification technology, and for reasons other than the treat ...
, the potential for genetic therapy to be used to enhance sport performance.
The field of kinesiogenomics is relatively new, though two books have outlined basic concepts. A regularly published review article entitled, "The human gene map for performance and health-related fitness phenotypes," describes the genes that have been studied in relation to specific exercise- and fitness-related traits. The most recent (seventh) update was published in 2009.
Research
Within the field of kinesiogenomics, several research studies have been conducted in recent years. This increase in research has led to advancements of knowledge in associating how genes and gene sequencing effects a person's exercise habits and health. One study focusing on twins looked to see the effect of genes on exercise ability, the effects of exercise on mood, and the ability to lose weight. The research concluded that genetics had a significant impact of the likelihood an individual would participate in exercise. An increase in participation can be linked to personality factors such as self-motivation and self-discipline, while a lower participation in exercise can be influenced by factors such as anxiety and depression. These personality trait, both positive and negative, can be associated to one's genetic makeup.
References
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Human physiology
Human genetics