Beyond the genome : a level playing field.

Steve Jones looks at how knowledge of genetic variation could revolutionise medicine, and the way sport is played. Scientists can determine whether genes, rather than the environment, are responsible for an athlete's success. Given a level playing field, with people equally well-fed and healthy, one could ascertain genetic differences such as those of Kenyan long distance runners. Work on the ACE gene shows mountain climbers have clear genetic differences. Genes control enzymes which affect the metabolisation of drugs.