A common gene that influences height has been identified for the first time ,helping to explain why some people grow taller than others. People who inherit a particular version of the gene, known as HMGA2, are on average a centimeter taller than those who have a different genetic version, scientists have found.
It has long been established that stature is heavily affected by a person’s genetic inheritance ,which accounts for about 90 percent of the variation in height between people who have similar diets .
While the effect of HMGA2 is small, and tens if not hundreds of other genes are also involved in height ,it is the first common gene shown to have a direct link.
The gene was found by the same British team that discovered FTO, the first common gene known to contribute to obesity . Just as FTO is not a “fat gene”, HMGA2 is just one of many biological factors that affect height.
Professor Mark McCarthy of the University of Oxford ,who led the research ,said, “Like FTO, it has only a very small influence ,and though it reinforces the idea that height is partly genetic it doesn’t mean we can start screening or genetic engineering to produce tall children.”
Everybody inherits two copies of HMGA2, one from each parent, and the gene comes in two varieties. About 25 percent of white Europeans have two copies of the “tall” version , and they are on average 1cm taller than the 25percent who have two copies of the “short” version, the scientists say.
The discovery, which is published in the journal Nature Genetics ,has come from data collected by the Welcome Trust Case Control Consortium, a British-led international project .

A common gene that influences height has been identified for the first time ,helping to explain why some people grow taller than others. People who inherit a particular version of the gene, known as HMGA2, are on average a centimeter taller than those who have a different genetic version, scientists have found.
科学家们已经首次鉴别出了一个与身高有关的基因，这一研究成果有助于解释人的身高之所以有差别的原因．科学家们发现，这种遗传基因的一个特殊类型被称之为HMGA2，带有HMGA2的人们与带有这种基因的其他类型的人们相比，前者的平均身高较后者的平均身高多了一厘米．
It has long been established that stature is heavily affected by a person’s genetic inheritance ,which accounts for about 90 percent of the variation in height between people who have similar diets .
很久已来人们就相信，遗传基因对于人的身高影响巨大，在食物结构相近的人群中，遗传基因在引起身高变化的成因中，占了９０％的份额．
While the effect of HMGA2 is small, and tens if not hundreds of other genes are also involved in height ,it is the first common gene shown to have a direct link.
尽管HMGA2对于身高的影响有限，因为或许有数十种遗传基因（如果不是数百种的话）都对身高有影响，但它毕竟是第一个被证实与身高有直接关联的遗传基因．
The gene was found by the same British team that discovered FTO, the first common gene known to contribute to obesity . Just as FTO is not a “fat gene”, HMGA2 is just one of many biological factors that affect height.
这个基因是由英国的一组科学家们发现的，这组科学家还发现了影响肥胖的遗传基因ＦＴＯ．正如ＦＴＯ并非＂肥胖基因＂一样，HMGA2也只是可以影响身高的众多生物学因素之一．
Professor Mark McCarthy of the University of Oxford ,who led the research ,said, “Like FTO, it has only a very small influence ,and though it reinforces the idea that height is partly genetic it doesn’t mean we can start screening or genetic engineering to produce tall children.”
作为这个课题的负责人，牛津大学教授Mark McCarthy说：＂如同ＦＴＯ一样，这个基因的影响力很有限，虽然它的发现强化了身高部分地与遗传基因有关的观点，但这并不意味着，我们就马上能够甄别出它们，或者利用生物工程技术，让孩子们长得更高．

这些科学家们说，每个人都遗传有两个HMGA2的复制因子,分别来自他的父亲和母亲，并且，这种基因表现为两种不同的形式．大约２５％的欧洲白种人带有两个＂高＂的因子，他们比２５％的带有两个＂矮＂的因子的人，平均身高多了１厘米．
Everybody inherits two copies of HMGA2, one from each parent, and the gene comes in two varieties. About 25 percent of white Europeans have two copies of the “tall” version , and they are on average 1cm taller than the 25percent who have two copies of the “short” version, the scientists say.
这项发表于＜自然遗传学杂志＞的科学发现，得到了英国人主导的国际合作项目－－Welcome Trust Case Control Consortium提供的数据支持．
The discovery, which is published in the journal Nature Genetics ,has come from data collected by the Welcome Trust Case Control Consortium, a British-led international project .