We all know that height is largely determined by genetic factors, so we can often predict the height of our children based on the height of our parents; of course, we often see "exceptions" in real life. So, how does the gene difference between determine the height difference between people?
Now, a new study of has given the most comprehensive answer to date and also provides a more accurate method for predicting height . The research results have just been published in the top academic journal " Nature ".
, the largest genome-wide association analysis (GWAS), has gathered the strength of more than 600 scientific researchers around the world, and combined nearly 300 related projects. The research participants in provided DNA samples reached 5.4 million . In contrast, the largest sample of 's genome-wide association analysis for height was 700,000 , and the number of people expanded by nearly 7 times.
not only has a large number of participants, but more importantly, in the past, genetics studies mostly favored people from European ancestry, and this study largely broke through this key limitation. The population covered by is more diverse, with more than 1 million participants being people of African, East Asian, South Asian or Latin American ancestry , so the gene mutations found are more comprehensive.
Image source: 123RF
This time, the research team revealed a total of 12111 single nucleotide variants (SNP) that affects height. The researchers pointed out that in some smaller studies, the variants found were scattered in the genome, but the large number of samples this time brought researchers to notice an important trend: , these genetic variants that contribute to height, gathered in more than 7,000 non-overlapping genome fragments, covering 21% of the genome.
Researchers also found that most of these variants in are concentrated near genes related to bone growth. For example, on chromosome 15, there is a gene ACAN mutated in a dwarf and skeletal dysplasia syndrome, and dozens of height-affecting variants are concentrated in the range of 100 kb of this gene. These single nucleotide polymorphisms provide strong genetic predictors for height.
▲Height is a typical multigene decisive trait. More than 12,000 SNPs that contribute to height are distributed in specific regions of different chromosomes (Image source: Reference [1])
Researchers pointed out that 80% of the height differences between people are determined by genetic factors. For the more than 12,000 genetic mutations found so far, can explain 40% of the height differences among people in European ancestry; can explain 10% to 20% of the height differences among people in non-European ancestry .
"Using these genomic data, pediatricians can better estimate the height of their children." Speaking of the significance of these findings, Dr. Loic Yengo, one of the main authors of the study, pointed out that "if the child's growth status is the same as the genetic predictions, parents can rest assured, otherwise they can have further physical examinations, which will help to detect potential health problems earlier." In addition, these findings can also be used in police investigations to predict height from the DNA sample of the suspect at the crime scene.
This unprecedented large-scale study not only gives scientists a deeper understanding of how genes determine human height, but Dr. Eirini Marouli, one of the leading authors of , , of , London, pointed out that the work of shows the great potential of revolutionary large-scale genome research to solve more challenges facing global health : “If we can get clear images of a trait—such as height—at the genome level, we will also have the ability to build a model to better diagnose and treat diseases affected by genes, such as heart disease or schizophrenia, etc.
Reference:
[1] A saturated map of common genetic variants associated with human height. Nature Doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05275-y
[2] Study of over 5 million people’s DNA reveals genetic links to height. Retrieved Oct. 12, 2022 from https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/967443
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