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Polygenic Traits

Polygenic Traits

When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...

Nature and Nurture

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...

Gene-Environment Interactions

Gene-Environment Interactions

Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...

Heritability

Heritability

Heritability is a statistical concept that measures the degree to which genetic differences among individuals contribute to trait variations within a population. It is a fundamental idea in genetics, often prone to misinterpretation. Heritability is expressed as a percentage, reflecting the proportion of variation in a specific trait across a population that can be linked to genetic differences. However, it's important to understand that heritability does not determine how "genetic" a trait is,...

Biological Influences on Intelligence

Biological Influences on Intelligence

Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter more...

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Related Experiment Video

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Protocol for Assessing the Relative Effects of Environment and Genetics on Antler and Body Growth for a Long-lived Cervid

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Relative effect of genetic and environmental factors on body height: differences across birth cohorts among Finnish

K Silventoinen¹, J Kaprio, E Lahelma

¹Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland. karri.silventoinen@helsinki.fi

American Journal of Public Health

|February 7, 2001

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Heritability of adult body height in Finland increased across birth cohorts from the early 20th century, leveling off post-WWII. Genetic factors play a larger role in men

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Area of Science:

Human genetics
Twin studies
Anthropometry

Background:

Understanding the genetic and environmental influences on human traits like height is crucial.
Heritability estimates for complex traits can change across generations due to shifts in environmental factors.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the temporal trends in the heritability of adult body height.
To examine how genetic and environmental influences on height have changed across different birth cohorts in Finland.

Main Methods:

Utilized a large-scale twin study with 10,968 twin pairs born before 1958 in Finland.
Employed genetic modeling techniques to estimate the heritability of adult body height.

Main Results:

Heritability of height showed an increasing trend from earlier birth cohorts (pre-1929) to later ones (1947-1957).
Estimated heritability for men increased from 0.76 to 0.81, and for women from 0.66 to 0.82.
Heritability estimates stabilized for cohorts born after World War II.

Conclusions:

The heritability of adult body height in Finland has increased over birth cohorts in the first half of the 20th century.
Environmental factors appear to have a relatively greater influence on height variation in women compared to men.
Findings suggest a complex interplay between genetic predisposition and changing environmental conditions shaping human height across generations.