Genetic tests, which are mostly used in cancer treatments, are also used to determine the sports branches in which young people can be successful. Üsküdar University Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics Lect. See. Genetics Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Korkut Ulucan says that athletes can achieve significant success with early age analysis.
After the medical world completed the human genome project, treatments made by looking at genes started to be used mostly in the field of cancer. Significant successes have been achieved in cancer treatment with immunotherapies developed with the genetic mapping of the tumor. However, genetic information is utilized not only in cancer treatment but in all areas of life.
Genes are also a guide in raising "super athletes".Üsküdar University Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics Lecturer Assoc. In the National Sports Genome Project led by Genetics Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Korkut Ulucan, appropriate training models, nutrition and psychological support management are tried to be created by looking at the genetics of young athletes. Stating that a gene pool has been created within the scope of the project and the genetic material of approximately 2000 athletes has been collected, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ulucan said, "The goal is to support the development of athletes who have achieved international success."
REAL DOPING HIDDEN IN GENES
Stating that many characteristics of a person are hidden in their genetic structure, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ulucan said: "The way our muscles work, their contractions, oxygen consumption and adaptations to environmental changes are under the control of genes. Today, we can identify these changes in genes. By looking at these differences, it is determined what kind of physical activity a person may be prone to. According to the characteristics of the person, athlete performances can be improved with individual training programs. Our aim is not to direct young people to a sports branch, but to determine in which field they can be more successful in the sports they are interested in. For example, if they are interested in athletics, we can determine whether they can be more successful in marathon or short-distance running. The aim is to achieve sustainable success without doping. We always say that real doping is hidden in your genes. No other substance is needed. If we know how to approach athletes genetically, biochemically and physiologically, we can raise super athletes without doping."
16 GENE REGIONS ARE BEING RESEARCHED
Explaining that genetic tests of young athlete candidates are carried out in the laboratories of Marmara University and Üsküdar University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ulucan said, "We have identified a core gene group for the National Sports Genome Project. We can look at 15-16 gene regions and get results about individuals. We can do this by looking at 100 genes if we want. We are currently reading the genes that affect their susceptibility to injury, athletic performance and psychological state. My main wish is to develop this jointly with federations. To identify a few pilot subjects and conduct a pilot study by applying genetic mapping to Olympic athletes, our U 15, U 14 athletes. When the outputs of this study are analyzed, the difference will be revealed and all teams will apply this. Science is heading in this direction."
Explaining that British Olympic athletes and Barcelona, Germany and Poland have conducted these tests, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ulucan said that the most striking example of the effectiveness of genetic tests was experienced in the Egyptian national football team; "The Egyptian football national team had the nutrition and athletic performance genes of all football players checked in 2015 and Egypt participated in the world cup after 30 years."
A GUIDE FOR PARENTS WHO DIRECT THEIR CHILDREN TO SPORTS
Genetic tests are also a guide for families who direct their children to sports and strive to earn educational scholarships. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Korkut Ulucan, who wants federations to take a hand in this issue in order to raise Olympic athletes, said, "All our abilities are hidden in genes. Our susceptibility to diseases, our weaknesses and strengths are in our DNA... Scientific developments in recent years are based on directing health by reading genetic materials."
EXERCISE FOR ALL AGES
Reminding that exercise is recommended at all ages, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Korkut Ulucan said, "It should not be forgotten that exercise is medicine. Especially for the vascular system to work well, exercise should be appropriate for metabolism. Exercise prevents plaque accumulation in the heart and brain and cleans harmful substances. Therefore, people who exercise have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. In addition, exercise provides health by releasing endorphins, also known as the happiness hormone. There is exercise for every age and every disease. Even if you are bedridden, you have to do the exercise recommended by experts."
Pointing out that exercise should be done with expert advice, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ulucan stated that this is very important especially in advanced age and that excessive exercise is harmful. Emphasizing that the exercise to be done in each period is different, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ulucan said, "The best exercise in advanced age is walking. It is more beneficial for those who want to do other sports to first go to their family physicians to have their health checks and do sports at the weight they allow. Heavy sports practiced by rote increase the risk of heart attack in advanced age."
GENETICS ALSO LIES AT THE ROOT OF OBESITY
Stating that genetic infrastructure has a very important effect in the development of obesity in addition to environmental factors, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Korkut Ulucan said, "Two people are the same age, their weight is the same. They do the same exercise, eat and drink the same things, one can lose weight and the other cannot. This is where the gene structure of the person comes into play. It is the one-thousandth genome difference that makes us different from each other. We analyze these one-thousandth differences in the laboratory and make recommendations accordingly: "It might be better for you if you eat this and that much". The genetic tests we do show the person's response to the event independently of what they take from the outside. For example, we can analyze the gene that metabolizes caffeine and recommend how many grams of caffeine a person can consume during the day. What does having this genetic information prevent? It prevents the emergence of problems such as tachycardia, high blood pressure, and the risk of miscarriage during pregnancy in young individuals."
LET'S SPEED UP METABOLISM BUT HOW MUCH?
In recent years, we hear a lot of advice about "speeding up metabolism". Nutritionists and sports instructors argue that the formula for health, weight loss and looking fitter is through behaviors that speed up metabolism. But is there a limit to speeding up metabolism? Assoc. Prof. Dr. Korkut Ulucan says that the metabolic rate of each age should be different. Reminding that trying to speed up metabolism with excessive sports can have dangerous consequences, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ulucan said, "The metabolic rate of a 25-year-old person is not the same as the metabolic rate of a 55-year-old person. The thing I am most against is that everyone is advised to 'speed up the metabolic rate'. No, metabolism should slow down at a certain age. Slowing down the metabolism prevents the spread of many diseases."
SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATHS CAN ALSO BE PREVENTED
Stating that genetic tests can prevent athlete deaths at a young age, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Korkut Ulucan said, "Cardiovascular diseases with familial forms can be predicted in advance and measures can be taken before the symptoms begin. Especially professional athletes can learn whether they are predisposed to any disease with genetic tests that they can have done only once in their lives."