The variants associated with height that we validated do not have strong enough effects to generate detectable linkage signals33. Three of our loci lie under previously reported height linkage peaks8: ZBTB38, lod score 2.03; TRIP11-ATXN3, lod score 2.01; and CDK6, lod score 2.26. However, because 17.6% of the genome overlaps with a height linkage peak with lod score >2, the number of such co-localizations is not greater than expected by chance (3 observed versus 2.12 expected). It remains possible that some genes harbor both common and rare variants that influence height, so some overlaps may yet emerge between associated and linked loci that have a real genetic basis. Furthermore, regions of linkage may indicate the locations of rare variants or other types of genetic variation that are not well captured by our current association methods.
