Height is a continuous complex trait which family and twin studies suggest is 80–90% heritable [1]–[3]. Recent genome-wide association (GWA) studies have found and replicated associations between common genetic variants from several genomic regions and adult height [4]–[7]. Each of the variants typically has only a small (∼0.2–0.6 cm/allele) effect on height [4]. Some of the SNPs identified lie in genes which are related to rare and severe monogenic syndromes impacting height in humans, or that can cause growth defects in mice when mutated [4].
