Found that the gene and muscle endurance

World champion in marathon finish more than two hours in full, and ordinary people will be too much for laps around the playground, why is there such a big difference? U.S. researchers found that a gene related to muscle endurance might be one of the reasons.
University of Pennsylvania, a research group reported that the gene known as IL-15Rα (IL-15 receptor alpha). It was found that the protein made ​​with the muscle contraction, but had no live animals in this genetic research.

The researchers genetically engineered mice to lack this gene, these mice results in a transfer cage every night, running away is six times more than normal mice. Mice lack the gene have more mitochondria in muscle and muscle fibers, less fatigue.

Studies have shown that mice missing the gene makes the leg muscles become like a slow-fast muscle, including shrinkage of the energy use patterns, etc. have changed. In animal muscle, fast muscle contraction and rapid, responsible for the action need for speed, fatigue; slow muscle contraction is slow, precise movements can not be fast, but can carry more oxygen, strong endurance.

The gene for the human may have the same impact. The team with the Australian researchers who analyzed some of the world-class athletes genetic data, found that certain versions of IL-15Rα gene mutations known endurance athletes in order to be more common. For example, in long-distance triathlon athletes, more than three-quarters of people have a version of the mutations. This means that some endurance athletes may be superior