Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Sports Illustrated Article
An article in Sports Illustrated this month titled "Gift Idea for the Meddling Parent" brought up some disturbing issues that I feel takes parents who get too involved in their children's athletic future will try and use to their advantage. For only about $150, Atlas Sports Genetics is a company that will do a cotton swab DNA test from a child's cheek to get a lab report on their ACTN3. The report shows how the body produces actinin, which is a protein found in the fast-twitch muscle fibers. This will allow parents to know what kind of sports they should put their children in based on how their body will react when it comes to speed and endurance for sports that require running and strength. I feel that this process is too meddling for parents. Children should have the right to choose what kind of sports they want to play in and enjoy. Some parents may do this with the expectations of their training their children at a young age and having them gain scholarships or professional careers in sports. It is unrealistic and unfortunate for a child to be pushed into a sport simply because their parents feel that there is some proof in their genetic make up that gives them a certain edge for success. Children have parents to raise and guide them into a world with many opportunities. A parents job is not to decide their their child's future for them. This may not be true of all parents who test their children's ACTN3, but I doubt parents who are less controlling would spend the money to have the test done. --Natalie Gonzalez 332
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I think you can look at this like a two sided coin, or the glass is half full-half empty concept will work too. There are always going to be new leaps and bounds with health and technology, and there are always going to be the ones who use this technology or abuse it. I don't agree with the concept of pushing a child into anything that they don't want to do-there will be resistance. On the other hand, if a child is already interested in sports and is particularly great in a couple but has to decide on one or the other because of financial reasons or scheduling, why not do the mouth swab to make things a little clearer as to which path to follow? Some children already know that they are going to stay in athletics, they already have the focus. Maybe they need to fine tune it when it comes down to the position they will play, or the distance they will go, and why not find out sooner than later? I'm all for it.
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