Many fathers and mothers think that their children will have the same height as themselves. However, a new study suggests using more accurate information for this prediction.
Australian scientists from the University of Queensland have come to the conclusion that DNA is a better indicator of a child's future growth than any parameters of his parents. The largest genetic study of growth in history has been conducted, using the DNA of more than 5 million people. Its authors suggest that they have managed to fill a significant gap in understanding how certain genetic differences explain the difference in height.
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80% of the difference in height between people is determined by genetics. The researchers found 12,000 variants that account for 40% of the difference in height. Therefore, it is possible to use DNA to predict growth more accurately than ever before.
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At present, the height of a young child is best predicted based on the average height of its biological parents. But using genome data, pediatricians can get a more accurate estimate. This will reassure the parents as they will see that the children are growing in accordance with the genetics. It may also be the reason for further medical research, which will identify potential growth disorders at an early stage, when they can be eliminated without any special consequences. (READ MORE)
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University of Queensland
Medicine
public research university located primarily in Brisbane, the capital of the Australian state of Queensland