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Adaptation to Maximal Effort: Genetics vs. Environment. A Case History

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

R.E. DeMeersman*
Affiliation:
Human Performance Laboratory, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond
D.C. Schaefer
Affiliation:
Human Performance Laboratory, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond
W.W. Miller
Affiliation:
Pediatric Cardiology, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond
W.E. Nance
Affiliation:
Human Genetics, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond
*
Director, Human Performance Laboratory, 817 West Franklin Street, Rm. 319 Richmond, Virginia 23284, USA

Abstract

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An individual's functional ability in physiological responsiveness is thought to be an interaction between his heredity and his environment. This hypothesis was tested to determine if different extragenetic influences would alter functional adaptability in a set of MZ triplets. After a 3-month aerobic physical fitness training program varying only in frequency, measured values for the triplets' maximum oxygen consumption (MaxVo2 ) were 59.1, 44.5, and 57.8 ml/min/kg, as compared to pretreatment values of 45.2,45.1, and 49.1 ml/min/kg respectively. These results clearly indicate intrapair differences in functional adaptability, stemming from difference in the training frequency program. The split-triplet design of this study indicates that environmental factors contribute substantially to the intrapair variance found among MZ siblings. Data extrapolation suggests that environmental stimulation of sufficient magnitude is likely to alter the functional adaptability in the individual set by his genotype.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1984

References

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