ИСТИНА

The aim of the research was to study the associations between some genetic polymorphic systems and morphological traits in rock-climbers of high qualification. 55 rock-climbers (22 women and 33 men) aged from 16 to 33 took part in the investigation. 56 women and 72 men, non-athletes, aged from 16 to 35, formed a control group. The program included anthropometric measurements (35), bioimpedance analysis, and the collection of buccal smears for genetical analysis. Genotypes of DNA samples for the polymorphic systems of ACE, FTO and VDR genes were determined by the minisequencing method with the following detection by MALDI-TOF. Significant differences were revealed in morphological traits: in male athletes height and leg length, as well as knee and ankle breadths were decreased, while corpus length and elbow breadth were increased. Skinfold thickness (measured at 9 points) was significantly smaller both in male and female athletes. Hand grip strength in rock-climbers was almost doubled when compared to the control group. Alleles and genotypes frequencies also demonstrate significant differences: in the group of rock-climbers there were no carriers of GG genotype, and the GA genotype frequency of the VDR gene was twice as more as the AA one (69.2% vs 30.8%). So the increase of A-allele could be explained as an adaptation to the specific sports activity, which demands lighter bone mass, decreased stature and fat layer, and better developed muscles.