Science
How Sports DNA assessments are built, what genetic analysis can reasonably describe, and — just as importantly — what it cannot.
Human DNA differs between individuals at millions of positions. A small subset of these differences has been studied in the context of exercise, training response, recovery, connective tissue, metabolism and cardiorespiratory fitness. Sports DNA assessments look at variants within that studied subset.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are single-position differences in the genome. Each trait in a Sports DNA report is built from one or more SNPs associated with that trait in the scientific literature, read from the DNA in your saliva sample.
Not every published association is suitable for reporting. Variants are assessed against defined criteria before inclusion — the strength and consistency of published findings, the populations studied, and whether the association has been examined more than once.
Trait interpretations are grounded in peer-reviewed research in exercise genomics, sports science and related fields. Research evolves, and interpretations are reviewed as the evidence base changes.
Where a trait is influenced by more than one variant, findings are combined into a structured readout so the trait can be communicated at a level that is useful in practice. In PEAK, several trait readouts are further integrated into higher-level performance profiles.
Genetics does not predict performance. Effect sizes for individual variants are typically small, associations differ between populations, and no genetic result can state what an athlete will achieve. Results describe tendencies, not certainties or diagnoses.
Training, nutrition, sleep, health, coaching, competition exposure and lifestyle all shape athletic outcomes. Genetic insight is most useful as one input into decisions that are already being made with that wider context in view.
What we do not claim
A genetic result is not a verdict. It does not diagnose, it does not predict outcomes, and it does not define what an athlete is capable of.
Sports DNA and Athlete Microbiome assessments are not medical or diagnostic services. They describe genetic predispositions, tendencies and biological composition for informational and performance-context purposes. They should not be used to diagnose, treat or prevent any condition, nor to determine whether a person should participate in a sport.