To better understand the genetics of height and skeletal growth, the study intersected two types of data—gene functions that alter chondrocyte proliferation and maturation in the growth plate (left illustration) and “hot spots” of heritability in human height from GWAS (right illustration).
Newswise —
Unlocking the Genetics of Height: Recent Study in Cell Genomics Reveals "Height Genes" and Cartilage Cells' Role in Determining Bone Length and Shape.
"The Latest Research on Skeleton Genetics Unveiled by Renowned Pediatric Endocrinologist Nora Renthal (@noradrenal) from Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard University. Height, a Key Indicator in Deciphering the Interplay of Genes, Growth Plates, and Skeletal Growth," says the Senior Author.
Cutting-Edge Gene Discovery: Team Identifies 145 Height-Associated Genes by Screening 600 Million Mouse Cartilage Cells. Findings Reveal Key Genes Linked to Skeletal Disorders and Essential for Growth Plate Maturation and Bone Formation, Shedding Light on Variations in Human Height.
Cutting-Edge Integration of Genetic Data: Researchers Compare Discovered Genes with Human Height Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). GWAS Enables Genome-Wide Survey to Identify "Height Genes" Hotspots in Human DNA. Challenges Arise as these Regions Can Harbor Multiple Genes, Posing Difficulties in Target Identification and Individual Study.
"That's kind of like looking for your friend's house, but you only know the zip code," says Renthal. "It's difficult."
Exciting Genetic Overlap Discovered: Comparison Reveals Genes Affecting Cartilage Cells Align with Human Height GWAS Hotspots, Pinpointing Key Genes in Our DNA that Likely Impact Stature. Further Investigation Unveils Height Genes Associated with Early Maturation in Cartilage Cells, Indicating Strong Influence of Genetic Changes on Cartilage Cell Maturation for Height Determination.
Renthal Highlights Limitations and Novelty of Study: Acknowledging Differences between Mouse Cells and Humans, and Observational Nature of GWAS. However, Study Proposes Innovative Approach to Bridge the Gap, Offering New Insights into Human Genetics and Height Determination.
Future Research Directions Unveiled: Team's Next Steps Include Exploring Hormonal Influence on Cartilage Cells Using the Novel Method. Additionally, Investigation into the 145 Genes with Unknown Skeletal Growth Connections Planned, Potentially Leading to Discovery of New Genes and Pathways Impacting Bone Development. Exciting Prospects for Unraveling Further Secrets of Human Bones.
Renthal's Hope for Impactful Intervention: "As a Clinician Treating Patients with Skeletal Dysplasia, Where Genetic Factors Influence Bone Growth, I Hope that Our Deeper Understanding of Growth Plate Biology Will Enable Earlier Interventions in Children's Lives," says Renthal. Aspiring to Make a Positive Difference in Managing Skeletal Disorders through Enhanced Biological Knowledge of Growth Plate Dynamics.
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Cell Genomics, Baronas et al. “Genome-wide CRISPR screening of chondrocyte maturation newly implicates genes in skeletal growth and height-associated GWAS loci” https://www.cell.com/cell-genomics/fulltext/S2666-979X(23)00065-4
Cell Genomics (@CellGenomics), is a new Gold open access journal from Cell Press publishing multidisciplinary research at the forefront of genetics and genomics. The journal aims to bring together diverse communities to advance genomics and its impact on biomedical science, precision medicine, and global and ecological health. Visit https://www.cell.com/cell-genomics/home.
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