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Comment by keymon-o | Hacker News Reader

I find your arguments on point, but his will, determination and sacrifice are just like steroids - means that enabled him to be competitive. It’s unfair not to mention his genetics as the most significant factor in his entire jouney.

Arnold‘s story is amazing, but he was surrounded with like minded people at least as much determined to achieve what he did, yet they never did come close to his heights.

There are examples of genetically predispositioned individuals in a lot of sports or competitive activities, and though amazing, we ought to differentiate pure will with blessings of nature, and celebrate the qualities that should be celebrated.

Arnold was a literal and figurative beast, no doubt in that.

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I always hear genetics this, genetics that. Who is going around sequencing the DNA of athletes?

You think Mike Jordan got to be 6'7" and you didn't because he worked harder than you?

Now work out how much environment contributed to that. Height isn't 100% genetic. There are kids out there with the same genetic potential who don't get enough to eat and will never stand a chance of playing in the NBA.

So back to my original question: Who is going around sequencing the DNA of athletes?

I am actually curious. I'm sure someone somewhere had the thought to apply science to the question of how much environment and genetics contribute to athletic outcomes. Anyone can stroll in and assert one or the other matters more. And people have! We have enough of that in here. I want science.

Yes genetics are not the only necessary condition which means it also is not a sufficient condition. Obviously so. Charles Darwin didn't need to sequence DNA to observe heritable characteristics. I strongly doubt sequencing Jordan's DNA will tell you anything at our current tech levels.

MJ is 6'7", fast, athletic and well coordinated. Several million people in the USA grew up loving playing baskeball, were well coached and well nourished.

We may well have missed a better MJ, or Einstein, Hendrix or Terry Tao or whoever you like due to them never getting a chance for all the reasons that can happen and that is an ongoing tragedy. One we as a species have been steadily and slowly fixing (albeit with some big dramatic setbacks) over the past 100 years or so. Long may that continue.

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