Visual China Figure Genes are the main factors that affect height, but this effect comes from the complex interaction of multiple genes. The impact of a single gene on height is often very limited. In a paper published in Nature, the researchers found a genetic variant that has a profound effect on height from one of the shortest people, the Peruvians. When carrying a gene variant, the height will drop by an average of 2.2 cm; when both alleles are mutated, the effect on height will be added to 4.4 cm. Researchers say this is the most known gene that has the most significant effect on height.
Found the genetic variants that have the greatest impact on height
From childhood to adolescence, human height will change significantly. A frequently mentioned question is: “What is the proportion of genetic and environmental influences on our height?” According to a series of studies on the height of twins, scientists have found that genetic factors are the main determinants of height. The impact ratio is about 60% -80%, and the remaining 20% -40% is due to environmental factors, especially nutritional conditions.
Previously, a genome-wide association study (GWA) covering more than 180,000 people found that there are hundreds of at least 180 gene loci related to adult height Genetic variation. In 2014, a study published in Nature-Genetics expanded the number of researchers to more than 250,000, and found that there were 697 height-related mutations at 423 gene loci. Some gene variants affect the height of the human body by affecting the length of the legs, spine, or head; some genes can affect the overall height. However, most of these genes have no obvious effect on individual height, usually only about 1 millimeter.
To further understand the effect of genes on height, a team of Harvard Medical School and other research institutions focused on one of the world ’s shortest people-Peruvians . The average height of Peruvian men is 1.65 meters, while the average height of women is 1.53 meters. Compared with Americans and Dutch who have the highest average height, Peruvians are 10-15 cm shorter on average. In a new study published in Nature, these researchers discovered a genetic variant that has the greatest impact on height in Peruvians to date.
Reducing height also has a superposition effect
Reducing height also has a superposition effect
The genetic makeup of Peruvians mainly comes from local Native Americans, and gradually came after the 16th century Europeans, Africans and Asians in Peru. Studies have found that the genes of indigenous peoples, Europeans and Africans account for 80%, 16% and 3% of the Peruvian genome, respectively. Researchers speculate that a genetic variant that is widespread among indigenous peoples is an important factor affecting the height of Peruvians.
In order to determine the factors that affect the height of Peruvians, the researchers collected the height and genomic data of 3134 people from 1947 families in the Peruvian capital Lima. They found that there is a height-related missense mutation in the FBN1 gene-E1297G.
Gene variant E1297G is formed by base mutation on exon 31 of the FBN1 gene. The study found that if there is an E1297G allele on the chromosome, it may cause a 2.2 cm drop in height. When both alleles are E1297G, there will be a superimposed effect, which is 4.4 cm shorter than people without this gene variant on average.
Among the genes previously found to be related to height, 99% of the genetic variants have an effect on height less than 0.5 cm. The researchers believe that they may have found the gene with the most significant effect on height so far. Among Peruvians, the probability of this gene variant occurring is 4.12%; while in the Mexicans who also contain Native American genes (the average male height is about 1.71 meters), the probability of E1297G is 0.78%. Interestingly, this genetic variant does not exist in Europeans.
Gene variants are preserved or related to the environment
Gene variants are preserved or related to the environment
Some studies have found that some people living in a specific environment have some genes that affect height mutation. For example, a study of Sardinian residents found that a gene mutation in the gene KCNQ1 encoding a voltage-gated potassium channel reduced their average height by 1.8 cm. Another study found that among Inuit people in Greenland, there is a genetic variant of fat metabolism-related gene FADS3, which reduces their average height by 1.9 cm. Scientists participating in these studies believe that in order to adapt to a specific environment and diet, these placesThe population in the district retains these genetic mutations that affect height.
Similarly, the genetic variant E1297G carried by Peruvians may also be related to the environment in which they live. When the researchers analyzed 150 Peruvians from the Peruvian coast, the Amazon forest area, and the Andes region, they found that the genetic variant was more likely to be found among Peruvians in coastal areas. Among them, the Moche people on the northern coast of Peru have a higher probability of containing the genetic variant E1297G, and their average height (male average height is 1.58 meters, female is 1.47 meters) is also lower than the average height of Peruvians.
Researchers speculate that this genetic variant may trigger other changes related to the FBN1 gene, such as changing the cardiovascular system of Peruvians for their Survival provides greater advantages. But until further results are obtained, these are just speculations.
(Original title: This gene mutation will make people 4 cm shorter)