A gene for speed? The evolution and function of alpha-actinin-3.
Bioessays. 2004 Jul;26(7):786-95.
MacArthur DG, North KN.
The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Sydney, Australia.
Bioessays. 2004 Jul;26(7):786-95.
MacArthur DG, North KN.
The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Sydney, Australia.
Our muscles are important for walking and running, yet the
underlying genetic cause for why some people are faster than others is unclear.
Recent research has found a gene called, ACTN3 is mutated in large
proportions of the human population. In athletes who excel at sports like
sprinting or power lifting, ACTN3 is normal and they are able to produce ACTN3
proteins. Athletes who excel at endurance events like marathons are more likely
to be producing the mutated nonfunctional ACTN3 proteins.
Researchers are not sure why there are two forms of ACTN3 in the human population, but they suspect that the nonfunctional ACTN3 has been recently selected for by evolution. Current research suggests that the nonfunctional ACTN3 makes people's metabolisms more efficient, so during times of famine they would be more likely to survive on decreased food. To study this, researchers have created a mouse model that doesn't produce ACTN3 which they use to look at muscle structure and for changes in the mice metabolisms. They have found that nonfunctional ACTN3 does seem to change the mice metabolisms to be more efficient but future research will be needed to determine just how the mutated ACTN3 changes our muscles and metabolism.
Researchers are not sure why there are two forms of ACTN3 in the human population, but they suspect that the nonfunctional ACTN3 has been recently selected for by evolution. Current research suggests that the nonfunctional ACTN3 makes people's metabolisms more efficient, so during times of famine they would be more likely to survive on decreased food. To study this, researchers have created a mouse model that doesn't produce ACTN3 which they use to look at muscle structure and for changes in the mice metabolisms. They have found that nonfunctional ACTN3 does seem to change the mice metabolisms to be more efficient but future research will be needed to determine just how the mutated ACTN3 changes our muscles and metabolism.
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