B4165 - Association between SNPs in candidate genes for good motor skills and childrens motor coordination - 24/10/2022

B number: 
B4165
Principal applicant name: 
Hideki Moriyama | Kobe University (Japan)
Co-applicants: 
Mr. Shota Inoue
Title of project: 
Association between SNPs in candidate genes for “good motor skills” and children's motor coordination
Proposal summary: 

Physical abilities are complex traits that are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors account for 20-80% of muscle strength, endurance capacity, speed, and flexibility. Physical abilities depend on motor coordination, which is defined as the dexterity to coordinate movements of multiple body parts. Well-developed coordination allows people to control their body parts in space and time quickly, efficiently, and accurately; so-called "good motor skills”. Motor coordination was commonly thought to be more influenced by environmental factors. However, recent twin studies have shown the heritability of motor coordination, suggesting the involvement of genetic factors in “good motor skills”.

Recently, we have demonstrated the heritability of “motor skills” by selective breeding in mice for good and poor coordination. Our comprehensive genomic and gene functional analyses in these mouse lines also identified candidate genes responsible for “good motor skills” in the cerebellum and cerebral cortex. The goal of this study is to determine whether the candidate genes for “good motor skills” identified by animal studies are involved in human motor coordination. To reach our goal, we investigated the association of SNPs in 11 candidate genes with children’s motor coordination using ALSPAC data.

Impact of research: 
The sports genomics approach has provided many insights into genomic associations of endurance- and power-based exercise performance. This research will lead to a better understanding of the relationship between motor coordination and genetic factors, opening up a new field of research for “good motor skills”.
Date proposal received: 
Friday, 7 October, 2022
Date proposal approved: 
Tuesday, 18 October, 2022
Keywords: 
Genetics, Developmental disorders - autism, DNA sequencing, GWAS, Development, Genetics, Genomics, Physical - activity, fitness, function