When it comes to our height, it seems that our fate is sealed from a young age, with our growth plates determining the length and shape of our bones. However, research published in Cell Genomics identified potential “height genes,” shedding light on the genetic factors influencing adult height.
Study senior author Nora Renthal of Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard University explained that the study aimed to understand the genetics of the skeleton, stating, “Height is a good starting point to understand the relationship between genes, growth plates, and skeletal growth because we can measure the height of every human being.”
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To identify height-associated genes, the researchers screened 600 million mouse cartilage cells and saw 145 genes that were mostly linked to skeletal disorders, as well as being crucial for growth plate maturation and bone formation.
The team then compared these genes with data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of human height. This comparison revealed that genes affecting cartilage cells overlap with hotspots from human height GWAS, which helps to locate genes that likely play a role in determining stature.
Renthal and her team also discovered that many of the GWAS suggested height genes led to early maturation in cartilage cells. These findings suggest that genetic changes affecting cartilage cell maturation may influence height more.
While the study was conducted in mouse cells and may not fully translate to humans, Renthal explained that it provides a novel method to bridge two approaches and provide new insights into human genetics.
“It’s my hope that the more we can understand about the biology of the growth plate, the more we would be able to intervene at earlier times in growing skeletons and the life of a kid,” Renthal explains.
The team plans to continue their research by looking into some of the 145 genes that have no known connection to skeletal development, which may reveal new genes and pathways playing a role in bone growth.