Genetic Testing In Sports Essay

During intense competition, an athlete will often try to push their body its maximum potential. There are many factors that influence this potential, and a study of the human body and how it functions can greatly aid an athlete in maximizing their performance. In this paper, I will discuss current issues that are related to sports and athletics, and how a knowledge of these issues can help one assess what can make an athlete successful – or not. First, I will discuss functional foods and dietary supplements. Next, I will summarize the ever-recurring issue of drug abuse among athletes. This will be followed by a summary of genetic testing. After that, the dangers of head trauma will be investigated. Finally, I will discuss BMI and its utility as a measure of health. As someone who did four years of cross country and track in high school, and remains active in playing sports today, I find that these

These modifications might be undetectable by standard tests, however, genetic testing could potentially shed some light in this area. At the present, genetic testing (DNA analysis) is used to diagnose genetic diseases and alert people who may be at risk for various ailments. A couple of possible benefits of genetic testing include early treatment for a disease and more informed reproductive choices. This kind of testing, however, also presents itself with new issues. For instance, a medical insurance company might consider someone who possesses a gene associated with disease to have a preexisting condition. Employers can potentially use genetic information to discriminate against their employees. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) is a law passed in 2008 that ensures genetic tests cannot be used to deny coverage or set higher insurance