How does it feel like being a short man? I can understand it. Height matters a lot in every walk of life whether you are gone for interview, seeking a partner, hanging out in party etc. You may be strong, sophisticated and intelligent enough but if you are few inches short, you will see the difference in the behavior of other’s towards you. It is frustrating, depressing and tiring.
If you are short, this is a daily problem. But don’t worry, scientists have found the gene responsible for making some people taller than others. The whole study was done on DNA samples from 35,000 people. A gene called HMGA2, a single letter in the human genetic code is recognized by an international team including researchers at Oxford and Exeter. It is major factor behind someone’s height.
We inherit two copies of this gene, one from each parent. The scientists found that the gene that has a C written into the genetic code in place of a T adds about half a centimeter to a person’s height. If you see white Europeans, there are two versions of genes; one is “tall” version of the gene and another carry the two “short” versions.
This study was done by the scientists at Harvard University and Children’s Hospital Boston with the collaboration of British researchers at Oxford University and the Peninsula Medical School on 5,000 white European patients who had given their DNA samples and details of their height and weight. The scientist identifies that changing just one letter in the genetic code had a significant effect on growth. Further, the study is reconfirmed on a by searching for the same two versions of the gene in 30,000 patients.
Joel Hirshhorn, a senior researcher on the study said in Nature Genetics,
Because height is a complex trait, involving a variety of genetic and non-genetic factors, it can teach us valuable lessons about the genetic framework of other complex traits, such as diabetes, cancer and other common human diseases.
So, if you want to be tall, wait for some time! The scientists will definitely find some way to correct this gene that will make you 5′8′, 5′10′...6.0′..... or more. All the best!
