Genetic variation in neuromuscular performance.

Abstract

Using a simple cumulative model of heredity plus environment, based on intrapair differences observed in monozygous (MZ) and dizygous (DZ) twins, the relative contribution of heredity to the interindividual variance in several neuromuscular parameters was determined with 15 pairs of male (8 MZ and 7 DZ) and 14 pairs of female (7 MZ and 7 DZ) twins ranging in age from 10 to 14 years. The data disclosed that in boys the variability in maximal mechanical (anaerobic) power was 99.2% genetically determined under the environmental conditions of the study. The corresponding heritability estimate values for the patellar reflex time and reaction time were 97.5% and 85.7%, respectively. In girls the heritability estimates could not be computed, because the MZ twins seemed to show almost as much diversity as the DZ twins in all of the variables studied. On the basis of the obtained data it is suggested that the variation observed in maximal mechanical power, patellar reflex time and reaction time may be more susceptible to environmental modifications in girls than in boys.