New Delhi:
A simple genetic test may now help you find out which sport best suits your child.
A leading pathology laboratory here on Thursday launched a 'sport gene test', which it said will assist in determining a child's natural ability to excel in a particular discipline.
"It will help determine whether your child's natural strength will be best either in football, soccer, basketball, baseball, golf, swimming, hockey, cricket, shooting or any other sport," Dr Sanjeev K Chaudhary, CEO of Super Religare Limited, said.
Dr Bharatinder Singh, a squash player and medical director of World Cup Hockey currently underway in the national capital is an example of the presence of such genes in an individual.
"He had a genotype combination of the ACTN3 gene. This combination helps in delivering well in power sports. He has been a national champion in squash for many times," Chaudhary said.
According to B R Das, Researcher, Super Religare Limited, the sport gene test involves a simple procedure.
"A swab is moved inside the child's cheek and along the gums to collect DNA which is given to the laboratory for analysis of ACTN3 gene (research in the past has shown some link between this gene and athletic abilities), which is one gene among more than 20,000 in the human genome," Das said.
"At times even with the best of nutrition and right coaching, a child is not able to excel in sports which frustrates many parents. Now, this test will help the parents to guide their children in the right direction," he said.
The test will cost Rs 1900, he added. The research on this gene gained momentum in 2003 when a study conducted by researchers in Australia identified the connection between ACTN3 and athletic performance.
This gene is found in a combination of two variants -- X and R. With the presence of both R variants in the ACTN3 gene, one is best suited for power games like swimming, cycling or marathon running, Das said.
With one combination of each gene variant, a child can be equally suited to either endurance or power sports. And with no R variant ACTN3 gene copies, a child will be best suited to sports involving fast and dynamic movements.
In order to find out whether the claims are applicable on Indian population, Super Religare carried out a test for the same among 100 sports personalities in national, international, state, and district level in India.