COMT gene

Nutritional and performance scientists have paid close attention to a gene on your 22nd chromosome. The COMT gene (also known as your "competitive" gene) influences the rate of dopamine metabolism in both your brain and body. The long form (MB-COMT) serves as a membrane anchor in nerve cells of the prefrontal cortex in your brain. The short, soluble form (S-COMT) influences the rate of dopamine catabolism in tissues such as the liver, kidneys, bone marrow, and heart. In athletics, your “competitive gene” is chemically responsible for the development and use of physical, mental, and emotional skills, as well as pain tolerance, detoxification, and fatigue resistance.

The heritability value can vary within a gene. Based on the same twin study, “Meta-analysis of the heritability of human traits based on fifty years of twin studies” (Journal of Nature Genetics), found that human heritability values can vary by trait, which means…

And… its complicated

For the “Warrior” athlete, it takes less nurturing effort to maintain the “competitive” gene outcome. But, for the “Become the Warrior” athlete, it takes more nurturing effort to maintain the “competitive” gene outcome.

*Oxytocin-GLA (one of the six flow hormones)
comes from the heart and drives the love of self.