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Can You Be Born a Couch Potato? The Genomic Regulation of Physical Activity

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Exercise Genomics

Part of the book series: Molecular and Translational Medicine ((MOLEMED))

Abstract

Most behaviors are controlled by a combination of environmental and genetic/biological factors. The regulation of daily physical activity levels, however, has primarily been considered to be environmental in origin. A growing body of recent data suggests that, in actuality, the primary controller of physical activity levels may be genetic in origin, especially in adults. Thus, the purpose of this chapter is to describe the current “state of the art” regarding physical activity genetics. Extensive human and animal models have produced an initial genomic map indicating potential genomic locations associated with physical activity. This map in addition to other criteria has produced several potential candidate genes associated with physical activity with varying levels of support for their candidacy. The literature has quantified the influence of genetics on activity and identified some potential responsible genes. Yet, much work is needed to establish the mechanisms through which these genes control physical activity as well as the regulatory factors located outside the genomic boundary of annotated genes (i.e., within the intergenic areas) associated with physical activity regulation.

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Acknowledgments

A generous grant (R01AR050085) from the NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (NIAMS) supported the writing of this chapter and some of the data collected within.

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  1. Department of Health and Kinesiology, Sydney and JL Huffines Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance, Texas A&M University, 159 Read Building, TAMU 4243, College Station, TX, 77845-4243, USA

    J. Timothy Lightfoot

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Kinesiology, Human Performance Lab., University of Connecticut, 2095 Hillside Rd, U-1110, Storrs, 06269-1110, Connecticut, USA

    Linda S. Pescatello

  2. University of Maryland, Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health, College Park, 20742-2611, Maryland, USA

    Stephen M. Roth

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Lightfoot, J.T. (2011). Can You Be Born a Couch Potato? The Genomic Regulation of Physical Activity. In: Pescatello, L., Roth, S. (eds) Exercise Genomics. Molecular and Translational Medicine. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-355-8_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-355-8_3

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