Height

Please note: Your Personal DNA Reports show genetic 'susceptibility' to traits, but not a direct relationship. As the majority of traits are influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors as well as your genes, you may find that not every result reflects your lived experience.

Introduction 

Height is one of the heritable traits you can easily notice within a family, and research suggests that your genes determine your eventual height by up to 80 percent [1]. It is highly likely that the genes you inherit from your family will determine whether you are slightly taller or shorter in stature compared to your peers. 

Yet even within a family, people may have different heights due to the 20% of non-genetic factors that help determine eventual height. While this report will focus on the genes that dictate height we also highlight why other factors, including diet and the environment, determine whether you achieve your full height potential. 

Height is acquired in three phases of growth and development; infancy, childhood and puberty stages. In all these phases the long bones of the body, such as those in the legs and arms, increase in length. 

This elongation is triggered by the growth at the bones’ epiphyseal plate - a thin tissue that forms and supports the bone structure. This process may stop in two instances; first when you complete puberty and secondly when other factors such as disease affect the cells involved [2] Jump to reference section: [2] . 

Due to the combination of both genetic and non-genetic factors, studies indicate that global populations have varying height potential. For example, socioeconomic differences between North Korea and South Korea populations have been linked with a significant difference in average height. One study found that pre-school children in South Korea can be up to 13cm taller than their North Korean peers [8] Jump to reference section: [8] .

Genetics of height

Genes are involved in the bone elongation process through how they control hormones and cellular processes. For instance, genes control the production of testosterone and estradiol during puberty which trigger and end bone elongation [2] Jump to reference section: [2] . They also control growth factors that ensure production and specialisation of the cells of the long bones. Genetic variation may cause differences in the elongation process, affecting height. 

These genes are associated with increased height:

Variant rs78727187 (FBN2 Gene)

The FBN2 gene is involved in the production of microfibrils, which are thread-like fibres that not only provide support to bone structures, but also contain growth factors that regulate the growth and specialisation of cells within them. Microfibrils specific to this gene enables stretching and contraction of structures such as bone cartilage. The variant rs78727187 is a change in the gene that enhances its function, increasing the height potential of individuals with two copies of the T allele by 2.4 cm [3,9] Jump to reference section: [3,9] . 

The NPR3 gene is involved in the mechanisms through which the body uses nutrients for growth and development. Enhanced function of this gene, linked with the variant rs146301345, may increase height by 1.8 cm for individuals with two copies of its A allele [3,9] Jump to reference section: [3,9] . 

These genes are associated with decreased height:

Variant rs142036701(IHH Gene) 

The IHH gene controls how cells that form bone cartilage are produced and specialised. Changes to this gene in the variant rs142036701 disrupt elongation of bones and may lead to a 3.6 cm height decrease in individuals with two copies of the variant’s T allele [3,9]. 

Variant rs52826764 (MATN3 Gene)

The MATN3 gene controls the formation and growth of cells that form cartilage and bones through a molecule called matrilin-3. If this gene isn’t functioning fully, bone elongation stops - leading to a potential 1 cm decrease in height for individuals with two copies of the rs52826764 T allele [3,9] Jump to reference section: [3,9] . 

Other factors that may affect your height

Nutrition

Nutrients such as vitamins and minerals are essential for the bone elongation process. Eating a balanced diet during childhood and puberty can help you or your children achieve their height potential. Poor nutrition on the other hand can create a height gap among peers of up to 20 cm [5] Jump to reference section: [5] . Malnutrition during pregnancy and childhood has also been associated with limited height potential.

Hormones

Hormones help control growth, build bones and develop muscles. Inadequate production of hormones, known as hypothyroidism, can limit height. Research shows that children with growth hormone deficiency increase in height by less than 5cm a year[6] Jump to reference section: [6] . 

Medical conditions and chronic diseases

Some chronic diseases are known to cause short stature and reduced growth in children. In addition to genetically-linked diseases such as Turner’ syndrome, conditions that affect the bones such as rickets lead to reduced height potential [6] Jump to reference section: [6] . 

Conclusion

In summary, height is influenced by a number of genetic and non-genetic factors. In this report we covered several genetic factors that have a well researched evidence base and a relatively large effect on height, but it is worth keeping in mind that there are hundreds to thousands more genetic variants that influence this trait to some degree.