Abstract: The genetic diversity of Actinin-3 gene (responsible for the formation of proteins association muscle
fibers) of the higher levels players in the sport of weightlifting was identified as a function of selection, and to study
the relationship between the alternative allele of Actinin-3 gene (R577R) and the level of achievement of the higher
levels players in the sport of weightlifting. DNA was analysis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to make
amplification of Exon-16 in Actinin-3 gene using two specific DNA primers followed by partial digestion using
restriction enzyme (Dde1) specialized to detect alleles of Actinin-3 gene (R577R and R577X). The results of PCR
amplification for the target part of Actinin-3 gene were similar in size of amplified fragments which means that,
whatever the genotype of this region of the gene, nucleotide changes were not due to loss or gain genetic material in
the gene but they were due to the changing nature of the linear sequence (nucleotide substitution) of nucleotides in
this region. The partial digestion of the amplified fragments of exon-16 (290 bp) of the homozygous genetic pattern
(RR) resulted in two fragments (85 and 205 nucleotides) due to the presence of one cut position. Meanwhile, three
fragments were resulted from the homozygous genetic pattern (XX) with size of 86, 97 and 108 nucleotides due to
presence of two cut positions. While, the digestion analysis of the heterozygous genetic pattern (RX) resulted in five
fragments, three of them were 86, 97 and 108 nucleotides, specialized to style (X), in addition to two fragments (85
and 205 nucleotides) specialized to style (R). The results show that the heterozygous genotype (RX) has the largest
percentage rate (50%) in the players sample and the homozygous genotype (RR) ratio reached its presence in the
sample (30%), while the genotype (XX) ratio reached its presence in the sample (20%). The distribution of the
genotypes (RR-RX-XX) of Actinin-3 gene in the sample was in ratio (1:2:1) which means the heritability of Actinin-
3 gene follows the simple mendilian's traits inheritance, which inherited between individuals without abnormalities.
The results of statistical analysis show presence of significance moderate forward correlation between the genotypes
of Actinin-3 gene (RR-RX-XX) and the achievement level of the higher levels players in the sport of weightlifting.
Also, presence of significance moderate forward correlation between the two genotypes of allele-R (RR and RX) and
the level of weightlifting, with no significance differences between homozygous genotype (RR) and heterozygous
genotype (RX). Moreover, the results show the presence of differences between genotypes (RR) and (XX) which
reflect the dominance of allele (R) on allele (X), where the owners of these two genotypes have muscles stronger and
faster than the owners of genotype (XX), which reflect the correlation between (R577R) allele and the higher levels
of achievements of the players. So, it can rely on the genotypes (RR) and (RX) in the selection of members of sports
depends on the strength and speed significantly.