First-of-its-kind experience celebrates the
launch of 30 new Performance Traits that explain how DNA influences
athletic ability
TORONTO, July 24,
2024 /CNW/ - Do you have superhuman speed
like track star Donovan Bailey? What
about determination like dual running and bobsled all star
Phylicia George?
With the addition of more than 30 new AncestryDNA®
performance traits such as Self-Discipline, Focus,
and Hand-Eye Coordination, people who take an
AncestryDNA test can now learn about how their genetics may have
influenced their athleticism. To celebrate, Ancestry®
launched an interactive experience that allows fans to compare
their DNA results to world-class athletes for a limited-time at
Ancestry.ca/BringYourDNAGame.
Ancestry, the global leader in family history and consumer
genomics, has teamed up with athletes from Canada, including Donovan Bailey and Phylicia George, and global partners including
Gabby Douglas, Nastia Liukin, Jackie
Joyner-Kersee and Michael
Johnson and more, enabling customers who take an AncestryDNA
test to see how their genetic traits for athleticism compare
against these greats. Ancestry is also encouraging people to get
into the competitive spirit by comparing their AncestryDNA
performance traits with friends and family.
"Being able to work with Ancestry to better understand the role
genetics has played in my dual-athletic career has been fascinating
and exciting," said Phylicia George,
three-time Olympian and bronze medal winner. "I have been pushing
myself for as long as I can remember, which makes sense since I
have the genetic traits for determination and strength. As a dual
athlete, it is no surprise that I am more naturally likely to take
risks and try new things - now I know that my easy transition from
track and field to bobsledding was easier because of my genetics. I
hope this inspires people to explore their own genetic traits and
compare their results with some of the world's greatest athletes
this summer."
By analyzing the DNA of more than 15 world-class
athletes*Ancestry is answering that age old question: is it traits
or training? New research found:
- Mental toughness may be one of the most important factors in
athletic success. AncestryDNA Traits showing likeliness to be
competitive (88%) and have self-confidence (69%)
showed up in the majority of champion athletes' DNA.
- Many of the athletes were born with traits that naturally
enhance their performance. For example, all gymnasts studied were
more likely to have physical flexibility, 83% of the track
and field athletes were more likely to be sprinters than
endurance runners and 60% of the swimmers were more likely to be
able to hold their breath for a long time.
- However, the journey to becoming an elite athlete isn't purely
genetic. Surprisingly, 60% of the athletes were unlikely to have
natural athleticism, underscoring the importance of rigorous
training to develop skills. In fact, according to their DNA:
- Donovan Bailey, an elite
sprinter, is less likely to experience a runner's
high.
- Phylicia George, dual athlete,
track & field and bobsledding, is unlikely to be speedy
when playing sports.
- Nearly 94% of the athletes share the trait for high heat
tolerance. The ability to perform well in high-temperature,
high-humidity environments is particularly beneficial in outdoor
summer sports and intense training conditions.
- While certain genetic traits were common among the athletes
studied - like fast exercise recovery (75%), risk-taking
(66%) and hand-eye coordination (50%) - the data
suggests there isn't a one-size-fits-all "DNA recipe" for
world-class athletes. Some skills are easier to achieve based on
genetics and others are nurtured through training - it is the
combination of both that makes a champion!
"At Ancestry, we're all about pushing the boundaries of DNA
science and innovation to spark personal discoveries," said
Brian Donnelly, Chief Commercial Officer at Ancestry. "By
enabling customers to compare their DNA traits with these world
champion athletes, we're taking this to a whole new level. While
the spirit of competition and achievement is being celebrated this
summer, we hope to inspire everyone across the globe to explore
their DNA to discover their unique potential and understand what
makes them truly exceptional."
Here's how to get in the game:
- Already taken an AncestryDNA + Traits test? Simply visit
Ancestry.ca/BringYourDNAGame, click "DNA" in the navigation bar,
then choose "Compare" in the drop down menu and go straight to the
"World Class Athletes" experience tab. AncestryDNA customers can
upgrade their results to explore all traits instantly by adding a
Family History subscription, a DNA Plus membership, or a Traits
add-on.
- New to AncestryDNA? AncestryDNA + Traits is on sale now
through August 11 for $89 ($65 off)
at Ancestry.ca/BringYourDNAGame. Don't wait to order a kit
and send back the sample! The Bring Your DNA Game experience will
only be live until Oct. 31.
With the addition of these new Performance Traits, AncestryDNA
now provides more than 75 personal genetic traits along with the
world's best DNA ethnicity insights to help customers around the
world discover what makes them, them.
*Participants in the DNA analysis include: Gabby Douglas,
Nastia Liukin, Kerri Walsh Jennings,
Michael Johnson, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Bradley Snyder, Todd
Frazier, Nicola Adams,
Ellie Simmonds, Kriss Akabusi,
Cathy Freeman, Stephanie Rice, Michael
Klim, Mack Horton,
Phylicia George and Donovan Bailey.
About Ancestry®
Ancestry®, the global leader in family history, empowers
journeys of personal discovery to enrich lives. With our
unparalleled collection of more than 60 billion records, over 3
million subscribers and over 25 million people in our growing DNA
network, customers can discover their family story and gain a new
level of understanding about their lives. Over the past 40 years,
we've built trusted relationships with millions of people who have
chosen us as the platform for discovering, preserving, and sharing
the most important information about themselves and their
families.
SOURCE Ancestry.ca