The worlds largest study into the genetics behind human height has discovered the traits vast complexity. <\/p>\n
Researchers at The University of Queensland took a leading role in the analysis of more than a quarter of a million samples, finding hundreds of new genes that play a role in determining height. <\/p>\n
Co-senior investigator Professor Peter Visscher, from UQs Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), said the discovery would help provide a model for genetic studies of other human traits and of diseases such as psychiatric disorders and dementia. <\/p>\n
Just as neuroscientists use experimental organisms as a model to study brain function, geneticists use human height as a model trait to study genetic variation, he said. <\/p>\n
The study involved more than 300 organisations across the world and found 697 DNA variants which influence height. <\/p>\n
Joint-lead author and QBI researcher Dr Jian Yang said the findings were significant because they proved exactly how complicated human height is. <\/p>\n
The DNA variant with the largest effect on height only has an impact of about five millimetres, and most of the other variants have a much smaller effect, Dr Yang said. <\/p>\n
Taken together, all DNA variants we discovered account for height differences spanning approximately 11 centimetres. <\/p>\n
This shows that the genetic basis for height isnt controlled by a single gene or small group of genes there are thousands of genes involved. <\/p>\n
Its estimated that about 80 per cent of a normal healthy individuals height is controlled by heritable genetic factors, and weve only discovered around one-fifth of those genes. <\/p>\n
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The rest is here:<\/p>\n
Genetic building blocks of height revealed<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The worlds largest study into the genetics behind human height has discovered the traits vast complexity. Continue reading