Obesity gene effects lean mass in healthy men and elite rugby playing position

Variants of the fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene have been shown to be linked to obesity. Here, Shane Heffernan and Alun Williams describe their research into how FTO genetic variation can also have an effect on skeletal muscle and whether someone is likely to become an elite athlete.

Shane M Heffernan & Alun G Williams 26 Jan 2017

Shane M Heffernan & Alun G Williams

Shane gained a BSc (Hons) in Exercise and Sports Science and an MSc in Exercise Physiology from Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire. He has recently completed his Ph.D. in Exercise and Sports Genomics at the Manchester Metropolitan University Sports Genomics laboratory as lead researcher on the RugbyGene project and is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science at University College Dublin.

Alun studied in Brighton, Chester and Birmingham (Ph.D.) before taking positions at Staffordshire University then Manchester Metropolitan University. He is Reader in Sport and Exercise Genomics at Manchester Metropolitan and leads the GENESIS project investigating genetic characteristics of elite athletes of which the RugbyGene project is a part. He collaborates with colleagues at the Institute of Sport, Exercise, and Health at University College London where he is Honorary Senior Research Associate.