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Hereditary Gigantism-the biblical giant Goliath and his brothers
Deirdre E Donnelly1, Patrick J Morrison2
1Regional Medical Genetics Centre, Queens University Belfast, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, BT9 7AB, UK.
Abstract:
The biblical giant Goliath has an identifiable family tree suggestive of autosomal dominant inheritance. We suggest that he had a hereditary pituitary disorder possibly due to the AIP gene, causing early onset and familial acromegaly or gigantism. We comment on the evidence within the scriptures for his other relatives including a relative with six digits and speculate on possible causes of the six digits. Recognition of a hereditary pituitary disorder in the biblical Goliath and his family sheds additional information on his and other family members' battles with David and his relatives.
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