Got Neanderthal DNA? It Might Halve Your Chances of Becoming an Elite Athlete

A Neanderthal AMPD1 variant still present in some Europeans lowers muscle efficiency and may hinder elite athletic ability. AMPD1 is an enzyme essential for producing energy in muscles and maintaining normal muscular performance. Genetic mutations that reduce AMPD1 activity are the most frequent cause of metabolic myopathy in Europeans, affecting between nine and 14 percent [...]

from SciTechDaily https://ift.tt/uQXw0K3