Scientists decode the mystery of the height difference between men and women
Recent scientific research has come closer to explaining the global phenomenon of height differences between the sexes.
On average, men are about 13 cm taller than women, a biological trait that scientists have been studying for decades to understand the underlying causes.
According to modern research, genetic factors account for up to 80% of the difference in height between individuals. Height is determined to be a polygenic trait, meaning that thousands of genes across the entire human genome influence this trait.
The complexity of height genetics is reflected in the fact that many different genes work together, each contributing a small part to the total. This explains why human height varies so much and why accurately predicting height from genetic information remains a challenge.
One of the most notable findings was the identification of the SHOX gene, which is located on both the X and Y chromosomes. This gene is estimated by scientists to contribute about 25% to the difference in average height between men and women.
Genetic variants that affect SHOX function can lead to shorter than normal height, highlighting the importance of this gene in regulating height development, especially the differences between the sexes.
A recent large-scale study analyzed more than 900,000 individuals to examine the relationship between the number of sex chromosomes and height. The results showed that the number of Y chromosomes had a greater influence on height than the number of X chromosomes.
The discovery that the Y chromosome has a stronger influence on height is a major step forward in the understanding of sex biology. This suggests that genes located on the Y chromosome not only determine sex but also play an active role in promoting height growth.
This result also helps explain why men, with the possession of the Y chromosome, are often taller than women. However, scientists are still continuing to research to better understand the specific mechanism by which the Y chromosome affects height development.
In addition to genetic factors, hormones also play an important role in creating height differences between the two sexes. The complex interaction between genes and hormones creates a sophisticated regulatory system that affects the development process from the fetal period to adulthood.
Sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen not only influence secondary sex characteristics but also affect the rate and duration of height growth. This explains why males typically experience a longer growth spurt than females.
While the average height difference of 13 cm between men and women is a global phenomenon, this figure can vary by ethnicity and geographic region. Factors such as nutrition, living conditions and ethnic genetics can all influence the extent of this difference.
Scientists are continuing to delve deeper into the precise mechanisms behind gender height differences. Advanced gene sequencing technology and big data methods are opening up new opportunities to better understand this complex relationship.
