Genetic of Sport

Code:

PDCD032

Acronym:

CDDGCM

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Sports Sciences

Instance: 2013/2014 - SP

Active?	Yes
Course/CS Responsible:	Sport Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDCD	1	Plano em vigor a partir de 2009	1	-	5	45	135

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

1º Clear understanding of the importance of genetic research applied to sport.

2º Have a precise and sound knowledge of formal and molecular genetics.

3º Have an accurate understanding of processes involved in top-down and down-up methodologies as applied to sport genetics.

4º Know, well, the fundamental aspects of research design as implied in the five steps of Genetic Epidemiology.

5º Have a precise knowledge of the main studies and principal results from different classes of performance phenotypes.

6º Recognize essential aspects of current research of genetics applied to high-level sport.

7º Identify with contemporary ethical issues from genetic research applied to sport.

Learning outcomes and competences

The syllabus contents are coherent with curricular unit aims, as they enable students to understand and evaluate the relevancy of sport and genetics in their future work in other curricular units as well as in their final dissertation. From a theoretical basis regarding research questions and data analysis in genetics and sport, students with acquire adequate knowledge in diverse research designs always context specific. We also aim to have students with autonomous knowledge in the use of PEDSTATS, S.A.G.E and SOLAR software’s. Syllabus contents will give students plentiful occasions to present published papers allowing for critical analysis of their content given the knowledge they have.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Basics of genetics

1.1. Individual differences and the role of genetics in response to exercise and sport

1.2. DNA, RNA and proteins

1.3. Transcription, translation and the genetic code

1.4. Moving genetic variation to the next generation

1.5. Heritability and the basics of genetic variation

2. Research design and methods

2.1. Basic skills for genetic research applied to sport

2.2. Issues in study design and analysis

2.3. Basic laboratory methods in genetics

3. Current findings and extensions of genetic research

3.1. Genetics of metabolic rate and physical activity

3.2. Genetics of body size, body fat and physique

3.3. Genetics of performance

3.4. Genes and high-level performance

3.5. Ethical challenges in genetics and society

Mandatory literature

Roth SM ; Genetics primer for exercise science and health, 2007
Regateiro FJ ; Manual de genética médica, 2007
Plomin R, DeFries JC, Craig IW, McGuffin P ; Behavioral genetics in the postgenomic era, 2003
Pescatello LS, Roth SM ; Exercise genomics, 2011
Bouchard C, Hoffman EP ; Genetic and molecular aspects of sports performance, 2011

Teaching methods and learning activities

Classes have a triple format. Theoretical presentations and discussion of syllabus contents will be firstly addressed. Secondly, practical sessions include the use of PEDSTATS, S.A.G.E. and SOLAR software’s dealing with problem solving, as well as visits to UP genetic laboratories (IPATIMUP and IBMC). Thirdly, all students will present a published paper of his/her interest, putting themselves in a “researcher skin”.

Evaluation will be done with two types of task. The first one relates to the presentation of a written paper by groups of two students (centered in a phenotype of interest) covering the four main steps of Genetic Epidemiology; the second one is a written exam concerning all syllabus contents. The final mark will be the weighted sum of the two marks, given that the second task weights 60%.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	60,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Total:	100,00

Calculation formula of final grade

 

Final mark=(research paper*40+final exam*60)/100