 |
 |
Height in Children
Name: TT Kern
Status: Other
Age: 20s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
How is height determined in children? Is one parents
genes more dominant in determining the height of their children?
Replies:
Actually, if you think about it, there are many, many genes that determine
one's final height. There are genes necessary for muscle and bone
development, genes that code for hormones necessary for growth such as growth
hormone and metabolic enzymes. So you can't really say there is one gene for
height. If there were, there would only be 3 phenotypes possible: short,
medium and tall. Height is not only polygenic, but multifactorial as well,
ie. the environment plays a role. If one's mother smokes during pregnancy or
childhood, if one's nutrition is not good, etc. full genetic height may not
be possible.
vanhoeck
Click here to return to the Molecular Biology Archives
| |
Update: June 2012
|
|