Genome-Wide Linkage Scan for Athlete Status in 700 British Female DZ Twin Pairs
De Moor MHM, Spector TD, Cherkas LF, Falchi M, Hottenga JJ, Boomsma DI, de Geus EJC · 2007
grade Ctwin-adoptionindependentunreplicated
Sample
4,488 female twins (793 MZ, 1,000 DZ pairs); 700 DZ pairs genotyped
Population
Adult female twins, TwinsUK registry; 'elite' = competed at county or national level
Design
Self-reported competition history in a female-only registry; 1,946 markers (736 microsatellites, 1,210 SNPs) in DZ pairs. Linkage is underpowered by modern GWAS standards.
Key findings
Heritability of athlete status estimated at 66%. Genome-wide linkage in 700 DZ pairs produced only suggestive peaks (3q22-q24 near SLC9A9; 4q31-q34), no genome-wide significant locus. High twin heritability with no locatable genes: the missing-heritability pattern typical of athletic attainment.
Genetic confound
Twin design handles genetic confounding, but the phenotype blends ability with willingness to compete, so h2 partly indexes heritable participation propensity.
Effects
| Outcome | Metric | Value | Measure | Timing | Vs | Horizon | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athlete status (ever competed; county/national level) | h2 (liability) | 66% | researcher-designed | adulthood, retrospective self-report | none | not-applicable | attainment |
| Linkage signal for athlete status | linkage peaks | suggestive only: 3q22-q24 (SLC9A9) and 4q31-q34; none genome-wide significant | standardized | cross-sectional genotyping | none | not-applicable | attainment |
Cited by
- Talent and trainability — what is heritable, and what that does not licensestrong supportconf: highgc: low