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Related Concept Videos

Heritability01:06

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,...
Polygenic Traits01:18

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...
Polygenic Traits01:18

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...
Multiple Allele Traits01:49

Multiple Allele Traits

The Concept of Multiple Allelism
Multiple Allele Traits01:49

Multiple Allele Traits

The Concept of Multiple Allelism
Pedigree Analysis01:35

Pedigree Analysis

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Using Cholesky Decomposition to Explore Individual Differences in Longitudinal Relations between Reading Skills
06:52

Using Cholesky Decomposition to Explore Individual Differences in Longitudinal Relations between Reading Skills

Published on: September 17, 2019

Heritability of somatotype components: a multivariate analysis.

M W Peeters1, M A Thomis, R J F Loos

  • 1Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Biomedical Kinesiology, Research Center for Exercise and Health, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Maarten.Peeters@FABER.kuleuven.be

International Journal of Obesity (2005)
|March 8, 2007
PubMed
Summary

This study reveals that adult body shape (somatotype) is significantly influenced by genetics and environment. While mesomorphy and ectomorphy are highly heritable, endomorphy shows lower heritability, suggesting distinct genetic underpinnings for fatness versus body composition.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Using Cholesky Decomposition to Explore Individual Differences in Longitudinal Relations between Reading Skills
06:52

Using Cholesky Decomposition to Explore Individual Differences in Longitudinal Relations between Reading Skills

Published on: September 17, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Human genetics
  • Anthropometry
  • Twin studies

Background:

  • Understanding the genetic and environmental factors influencing human body composition is crucial for public health.
  • Heath-Carter somatotype components (endomorphy, mesomorphy, ectomorphy) provide a framework for describing body shape.
  • Previous research has primarily focused on adolescent twin studies, necessitating adult data.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic and environmental influences on Heath-Carter somatotype components in adults.
  • To determine the heritability and environmental contributions to endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy.
  • To examine sex differences and covariation among somatotype components.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized multivariate path analysis on a dataset of 803 adult Flemish twins (424 pairs).
  • Analyzed data from twins aged 18-34 years.
  • Applied age-regression to isolate genetic and environmental variances.

Main Results:

  • Significant sex differences and covariation were observed among the three somatotype components.
  • Additive genetic variance (A), shared environment (C), and unique environment (E) explained population variation.
  • Heritability estimates for men: endomorphy (28.0%), mesomorphy (86.3%), ectomorphy (66.5%).
  • Heritability estimates for women: endomorphy (32.3%), mesomorphy (82.0%), ectomorphy (70.1%).
  • Over 70% of the variation in all components was explained by shared environmental factors, highlighting the importance of multivariate analysis.

Conclusions:

  • High heritability for mesomorphy and ectomorphy is maintained into adulthood.
  • Endomorphy, reflecting subcutaneous adipose tissue, shows lower heritability in adulthood compared to adolescent studies and BMI.
  • The distinct heritabilities of mesomorphy and endomorphy raise questions about using BMI to fully understand the genetics of fatness and obesity.