Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 15, 2025
07:56
Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
17.9K
The same growth pattern from puberty suggests that modern human diversity results from changes during pre-pubertal
Jean-Claude Pineau1, Fernando V Ramirez Rozzi2,3
1BABEL, UMR 8045, CNRS, UP, 2 Voie Mazas, 75012, Paris, France.
Scientific Reports
|March 2, 2021
Summary
Human growth patterns are consistent across diverse populations. A study found that growth canalisation, influenced by biological maturity at puberty, predicts adult stature similarly in different ethnic groups and athletes.
Area of Science:
- Human biology
- Anthropometry
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Human growth patterns are population-specific and rarely tested across diverse groups.
- Previous models identified three pubertal growth curves based on stature, peak growth age, and biological maturation in Caucasians.
- These models demonstrated high precision in predicting adult stature, suggesting growth kinetics are established at puberty.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if established human growth models are population-dependent or species-specific.
- To test the extrapolation of a Caucasian growth model to different populations.
- To investigate the universality of growth canalisation patterns.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a previously developed model of three pubertal growth curves.
- Applied the model to longitudinal data from Caucasian populations, basketball players, and Baka pygmies.
- Assessed the precision of adult stature prediction across these diverse groups.
Main Results:
- The growth model accurately predicted adult stature in both basketball players and Baka pygmies.
- The relationship between growth kinetics and age at maturity was consistent across all tested populations.
- Pubertal growth stages exhibited similar canalisation patterns regardless of population-specific average adult statures.
Conclusions:
- Growth canalisation is a species-specific phenomenon, not population-dependent.
- The established model of growth kinetics and maturity reflects a universal pattern in humans.
- Morphological diversity in modern humans likely originates from early developmental processes.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Signs of Puberty
895
Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...
895
01:10Nature and Nurture
21.4K
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,...
21.4K
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
3.1K
The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
3.1K
01:18Polygenic Traits
67.6K
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...
67.6K
01:30Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
149
Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
149
01:29Three Developmental Domains
718
Human development is typically examined across three main domains: physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional. These domains represent the significant areas of change and continuity throughout the lifespan, from infancy to late adulthood.
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...
718