Genetics of human growth

Abstract

Genes involved in human growth consist of major growth genes and minor growth genes. Major growth genes have fundamental effects on human growth, and their mutations cause growth failure (or overgrowth) which are recognizable as single gene disorders. Minor growth genes exert relative minor additive effects on human growth, and their combination is involved in the development of short (or tall) stature as a multifactorial trait. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the major and the minor growth genes, and refers to the recent molecular approach of identification of the growth genes. Copyright © 2006 by The Japanese Society for Pediatric Endocrinology.