A Colorado company is testing young athletes' DNA to find out if they have what it takes to compete at an elite level.

Atlas Sports Genetics uses a cotton swab to take a saliva sample to be sent and analyzed by an Australian lab. The test screens for variants of the gene ACTN3, which is associated with a muscle protein that is commonly found in high levels in elite athletes, such as Olympians. Atlas says the results can help guide young athletes to play in particular sports that are better suited to their physical make-up.

Atlas president Kevin Reiley says if they can direct a young athlete to such a sport at an early age and it can help them get ready to make a run at a college scholarship by the end of their high school career.

"Now the expectation is, when you recruit an athlete at a collegiate level, you want the recruit to be an impact player right away," says Reiley. "That puts emphasis on high school and junior high to get them up to the point where they can be an impact player right away."'

Dr. Matthew Taylor, the Director of Adult Clinical Genetics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine says Atlas can indeed test for the presence of the gene ACTN3 and the associated proteins, but he feels it's way to early to say the results can predict better performance in certain sports.

"At the moment, you're welcome to use the test. You might find it interesting," admits Dr. Taylor. "But anybody who thinks you should use the test to guide or dictate your own athletic work or what your kids do is probably not getting the message. I think it's too premature."

Atlas admits there is still plenty of research to be done with such testing, but it feels like the results, combined with a proper training regimen is the best way to identify athletic talent at the present time.

The test costs $169.00 and can be purchased on Atlas's website at www.atlasgene.com