Special Features - How genes influence our height

How genes influence our height
(05/09/07)

Scientists have now identified for the first time a gene which influences someone's height.

UK scientists have discovered a gene that influences a person's height and which could lead to a greater understanding of the links between height and disease.

Genetics key role

Although it has long been clear that genetics plays a key role in determining how tall somebody is, the genes involved have long been a mystery. Now, however, scientists have discovered a new gene - HMGA2 - a common variant of which directly influences height.

The study is a collaboration between British and American researchers from Oxford University, Peninsula Medical School, run jointly by Exeter and Plymouth universities, and the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge.

"Tall" and "short" versions

All of us carry two copies of each HMGA2 gene, one from each parent. However, each copy can be a variant - in the case of HMGA2, a "tall" and a "short" version.

Researchers found that as many as 25 per cent of white Europeans carried two "tall" versions of this particular gene, making them roughly 1 cm taller than the 25 per cent of people who carry two "short" versions.

First gene of many

Dr Tim Frayling, from the Peninsula Medical School, explains that many genes contribute to making us taller or shorter. "Clearly our results do not explain why one person will be 6'5" (196 cms) and another only 4'10" (147 cms). This is just the first of many genes that will be found, possibly as many as several hundred," he said.

Differences in people's height depends whether your parents are tall or short, but a new gene has been discovered which tells us more of the story.

A greater understanding of the height genes could also provide clues about the risk of disease. Previous studies have shown that taller people are statistically more likely to be at risk from prostate, bladder and lung cancer. This suggests that the genes which regulate cell growth and division may also play a role in the uncontrolled cell proliferation, characteristic of cancer.

Higher risk of heart disease

Conversely, Dr Mike Weedon, lead author of the study, explains that shorter people could have a slightly increased risk of heart disease.

The research, which was recently published in Nature Genetics, was funded by a number of British charities including the Wellcome Trust, Diabetes UK, and the Medical Research Council.

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