Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Polygenic Traits01:18

Polygenic Traits

65.7K
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...
65.7K
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

20.4K
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,...
20.4K
The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes02:45

The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes

8.5K
In most organisms, sex is determined by the ratio of X and Y chromosomes. However, in some organisms, such as Drosophila and C.elegans, sex is determined by the ratio of the number of X chromosomes to the number of sets of autosomes. The Y chromosome in Drosophila is active but does not determine sex. It contains genes responsible for the production of sperms in adult flies.  
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female...
8.5K
Dosage Compensation02:50

Dosage Compensation

6.1K
In animals, gender is determined by the number and type of sex chromosome. For example, human females have two X chromosomes, and males have one X and one Y chromosome, whereas C.elegans with one X chromosome is a male, and the one with two X chromosomes is a hermaphrodite.
In addition to sexual development, the X chromosome has genes involved in autosomal functions such as brain development and the immune system. Therefore, males and females with  distinct numbers of X chromosomes will...
6.1K
Chi-square Analysis02:46

Chi-square Analysis

38.2K
The chi-square test is a statistical hypothesis test. It is used to check whether there is a significant difference between an expected value and an observed value. In the context of genetics, it enables us to either accept or reject a hypothesis, based on how much the observed values deviate from the expected values.
The chi-square test was developed by Pearson in 1990.
The first step of performing a Chi-square analysis is to establish a null hypothesis, which assumes that there is no real...
38.2K
Sex-linked Disorders01:43

Sex-linked Disorders

101.9K
Like autosomes, sex chromosomes contain a variety of genes necessary for normal body function. When a mutation in one of these genes results in biological deficits, the disorder is considered sex-linked.
101.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

GATA4 Single-Amino Acid Deletion in a Male Patient With Congenital Heart Defects, Differences of Sex Development, and Diaphragmatic Hernia.

Clinical genetics·2026
Same author

Clinical features of syndromic microphthalmia in two novel RARB variants.

Human genome variation·2026
Same author

Novel HK1 intronic variant in congenital hyperinsulinism: impaired transactivation function for FOXA2.

European journal of endocrinology·2026
Same author

Submicroscopic 16q24.2-q24.3 deletion in a family with nonsyndromic short stature.

Human genome variation·2026
Same author

Compound Heterozygosity of PTF1A Exonic and Enhancer Variants in a Japanese Boy With Pancreatic Hypoplasia.

Clinical genetics·2026
Same author

De novo GNAS-Gsα variant (p.Thr55Ala) with constitutive gain-of-function effects on AVPR2 and PTH1R signalings.

Journal of human genetics·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2025

In Vivo Functional Study of Disease-associated Rare Human Variants Using Drosophila
00:06

In Vivo Functional Study of Disease-associated Rare Human Variants Using Drosophila

Published on: August 20, 2019

13.6K

SHOX and sex difference in height: a hypothesis.

Tsutomu Ogata1,2, Atsushi Hattori3, Maki Fukami3

  • 1Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu 431-3192, Japan.

Endocrine Journal
|July 10, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Male and female height differences are influenced by sex chromosomes and sex steroids. Sex chromosome complement accounts for most adult height variation, with SHOX gene expression playing a key role in childhood growth.

Keywords:
HeightICP growth modelSHOXSex differenceX-inactivation

More Related Videos

Skeletal Muscle Gender Dimorphism from Proteomics
09:29

Skeletal Muscle Gender Dimorphism from Proteomics

Published on: December 14, 2011

12.5K
Navigating MARRVEL, a Web-Based Tool that Integrates Human Genomics and Model Organism Genetics Information
09:37

Navigating MARRVEL, a Web-Based Tool that Integrates Human Genomics and Model Organism Genetics Information

Published on: August 15, 2019

9.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2025

In Vivo Functional Study of Disease-associated Rare Human Variants Using Drosophila
00:06

In Vivo Functional Study of Disease-associated Rare Human Variants Using Drosophila

Published on: August 20, 2019

13.6K
Skeletal Muscle Gender Dimorphism from Proteomics
09:29

Skeletal Muscle Gender Dimorphism from Proteomics

Published on: December 14, 2011

12.5K
Navigating MARRVEL, a Web-Based Tool that Integrates Human Genomics and Model Organism Genetics Information
09:37

Navigating MARRVEL, a Web-Based Tool that Integrates Human Genomics and Model Organism Genetics Information

Published on: August 15, 2019

9.7K

Area of Science:

  • Human genetics
  • Endocrinology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Adult height differences between males and females are approximately 12.5 cm.
  • Sex chromosome complement contributes ~9 cm, while sex steroids contribute ~3.5 cm to this difference.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms underlying sex-based height differences.
  • To elucidate the roles of sex chromosomes, sex steroids, and SHOX gene expression in growth.
  • To understand how these factors contribute to height variation from childhood to adulthood.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of adult height data in subjects with varying sex chromosome complements and sex steroid levels.
  • Application of the infancy-childhood-puberty growth model to assess sex differences in growth phases.
  • SHOX gene expression and methylation analysis in knee cartilage and chondrocytes.

Main Results:

  • Sex chromosome complement significantly impacts adult height, more so than sex steroids.
  • Childhood growth differences contribute ~1 cm, while pubertal growth differences contribute ~4.5 cm to adult height disparity.
  • Lower SHOX expression and altered methylation patterns were observed in females, suggesting sex-specific regulation.

Conclusions:

  • Sex chromosome complement is a primary driver of sex differences in adult height.
  • SHOX gene dosage variations, independent of sex steroids, influence childhood growth trajectories.
  • These findings explain the gradual increase in height disparity from childhood to adulthood.