Method for predicting the athletic performance potential of a subject

Abstract

A method for predicting the athletic performance potential of a subject comprising the step of assaying a biological sample from a subject for a genetic variant in linkage disequilibrium with MSTN-66493737 (T/C) SNP. The invention also provides an assay for determining the athletic performance potential of a subject.

1 . A method for predicting the athletic performance potential of a subject comprising the step of:
 assaying a biological sample from a subject for a genetic variant in linkage disequilibrium with MSTN-66493737 (T/C) SNP.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the subject is an equine. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the genetic variant is located in equine chromosome 18. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the genetic variant is located in the MSTN gene region. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the genetic variant is located in the MSTN gene flanking region. 
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the genetic variant is chosen from one or more of: BIEC2-417495 SNP, BIEC2-417372 SNP, MSTN Ins227 bp mutation, MSTN 3′UTR SNP1, MSTN 3′UTR SNP2, MSTN 3′UTR SNP3, or MSTN 3′UTR SNP4. 
     
     
         7 . A method as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the genetic variant is BIEC2417495 SNP. 
     
     
         8 . A method as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the presence of a C allele is indicative of elite athletic performance. 
     
     
         9 . A method as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the presence of a homozygous CC genotype is indicative of elite athletic performance. 
     
     
         10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the elite athletic performance is elite sprinting performance. 
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the biological sample of the subject is chosen from one or more of: blood, saliva, skeletal muscle, hair, semen, bone marrow, soft tissue, internal organ biopsy sample or skin. 
     
     
         12 . An assay for determining the athletic performance potential of a subject comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a biological sample from the subject;   extracting or releasing DNA from the biological sample; and   identifying a genetic variant in linkage disequilibrium with MSTN-66493737 (T/C) SNP in the biological sample   wherein the athletic performance potential of the subject is associated with the genetic variant and/or the MSTN-66493737 (T/C) SNP.   
     
     
         13 . An assay as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the DNA is genomic DNA. 
     
     
         14 . An assay as claimed in  claim 12  comprising the step of:
 amplifying a target sequence in the extracted or released DNA 
 prior to the step of identifying a genetic variant in linkage disequilibrium with MSTN-66493737 (T/C) SNP 
 
     
     
         15 . An assay as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the subject is an equine. 
     
     
         16 . A method for predicting the athletic performance potential of a subject comprising the step of:
 assaying a biological sample from a subject for the presence of (i) a MSTN-66493737 (T/C) SNP and (ii) a genetic variant in linkage disequilibrium with the MSTN-66493737 (T/C) SNP.   
     
     
         17 . An assay for determining the athletic performance potential of a subject comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a biological sample from the subject;   extracting or releasing DNA from the biological sample; and   identifying (i) a MSTN-66493737 (T/C) SNP and (ii) a genetic variant in linkage disequilibrium with the MSTN-66493737 (T/C) SNP in the biological sample   wherein the athletic performance potential of the subject is associated with the MSTN-66493737 (T/C) SNP and/or the genetic variant.   
     
     
         18 . A method for predicting the athletic performance potential of a subject comprising the step of assaying a biological sample from a subject for the presence of a DNA polymorphism (SNP or insertion) in the MSTN gene and/or flanking sequences. 
     
     
         19 . A method as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the DNA polymorphism is an insertion polymorphism. 
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the polymorphism is Chr18g.66495327Ins227 bp66495326. 
     
     
         21 . A method as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the presence of a Ins227 bp allele is indicative of elite athletic performance. 
     
     
         22 . A method as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the presence of a homozygous Ins227 bp/Ins227 bp genotype is indicative of elite athletic performance. 
     
     
         23 . A method as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the elite athletic performance is elite sprinting performance. 
     
     
         24 . A method as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the biological sample of the subject is selected from the group comprising: blood, saliva, skeletal muscle, hair, semen, bone marrow, soft tissue, internal organ biopsy sample and skin. 
     
     
         25 . A method as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the subject is from a competitive racing species. 
     
     
         26 . A method as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the subject is an equine 
     
     
         27 . A method as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the subject is chosen from one or more of a thoroughbred race horse, a standardbred trotter, a French trotter, a Quarter horse, or a competitive jumping horse. 
     
     
         28 . An assay for determining the athletic performance potential of a subject comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a sample;   extracting or releasing DNA from the sample; and   identifying a polymorphism (SNP or insertion) in a target sequence from an MSTN gene associated with athletic performance in the extracted or released DNA   wherein the athletic performance potential of a subject is associated with the polymorphism.   
     
     
         29 . An assay for use in determining the athletic performance potential of a subject comprising a detector for detecting the presence of a polymorphism (SNP or insertion) in the MSTN gene and/or flanking sequences. 
     
     
         30 . An assay for determining the athletic potential of a subject comprising the step of:
 obtaining a sample;   extracting or releasing DNA from the sample; and   identifying the genotype of the Chr18g.66495327Ins227 bp66495326 polymorphism in the extracted or released DNA   wherein the presence of a Ins227 bp allele in the Chr18g.664953271 ns227 bp66495326 polymorphism is indicative of elite athletic performance.