February 2014

Opening ‘the X-files’ Helps Researchers to Understand Why Women and Men

Differ in Height

Researchers have identified novel X-chromosomal genetic variants that influence human height. The study showed that a genetic variant close to ITM2A is frequent among individuals who are shorter than average. The identified variant was also shown to increase the expression of ITM2A, suggesting that the more the gene is expressed, the shorter the person will be. Interestingly, the effect of this variant on height was shown to be much stronger in women.
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