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Updated: May 21, 2026
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Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats
Published on: October 13, 2018
Puberty as a life history transition
Peter T Ellison1, Meredith W Reiches, Heather Shattuck-Faegre
1Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. pellison@fas.harvard.edu
Annals of Human Biology
|June 22, 2012
Summary
This review explores human pubertal development, linking James Tanner's foundational work to modern neuroendocrine understanding. It introduces novel concepts like the 'hour-glass of puberty' and 'somatic strategy' for a comprehensive view.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Human Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- James Tanner's "Growth at Adolescence" remains a seminal work on human pubertal development.
- Tanner's core insights into puberty have demonstrated enduring relevance over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To connect Tanner's historical contributions with current scientific understanding of puberty.
- To introduce and define the heuristic constructs of the 'hour-glass of puberty' and 'somatic strategy'.
Main Methods:
- This study is a review connecting historical and contemporary perspectives on puberty.
- It synthesizes neuroendocrine principles with Tanner's foundational work.
- Introduces novel conceptual frameworks: 'hour-glass of puberty' and 'somatic strategy'.
Main Results:
- Puberty is fundamentally a neuroendocrine maturation process.
- The 'hour-glass of puberty' model illustrates converging information pathways influencing pubertal timing and outcomes.
- The 'somatic strategy' concept explains the development of sex-specific adult morphology during the juvenile-to-adult transition.
Conclusions:
- Tanner's work provides a crucial foundation for understanding the neuroendocrine basis of puberty.
- The 'hour-glass of puberty' and 'somatic strategy' offer valuable frameworks for future research into pubertal development.
- This review highlights the ongoing significance of Tanner's contributions to the field.
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