US EditionBeyond Hormones: Researchers Define X and Y Chromosome Contributions to Height
- On May 19, 2025, researchers published a study in PNAS analyzing nearly one million US and UK genomes to explore height differences.
- They studied rare cases of individuals with extra or missing X or Y chromosomes to understand genetic contributions to height.
- The study revealed that possessing an additional Y chromosome results in a greater increase in height than having an extra X chromosome, independent of sex hormone effects.
- Senior author Matthew Oetjens noted that this genetic factor accounts for roughly 20 percent of the typical height gap observed between males and females, indicating a modest but meaningful contribution.
- These findings suggest that the SHOX gene on sex chromosomes partly drives male-female height differences, with hormones likely accounting for the rest.
42 Articles
42 Articles
It is an inescapable fact of today that men are, on average, taller than women, while women are, on average, shorter than men. The difference is about 13 centimeters on average.
Y chromosome found to play key role in making men taller than women
Height is one of the most evident sex-based differences observed in humans, as men are on an average 13 cm (5 inches) taller than women. Sex hormones certainly play a significant role in driving this dimorphism, but they are not the only factors at play.
'Definitely Cool' Study Digs Into Male-Female Height Gap
Why are men, on average, taller than women? A massive new genetic study reveals how a single gene may account for a slice of the difference. The SHOX gene has been thought to influence height—but since it's present on both X and Y chromosomes, researchers could only hypothesize that...
thepress.net
Scientists Find Gene That Helps Explain Why Men Are Taller Than Women
Key Takeaways
Men are taller than women, an average of about 13 cm. But why? It is not a genetic inevitability: there are many species in the genealogical tree where females outperform males. A new study, published on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which included genetic data from a million people, has found a partial explanation. It involves a gene called SHOX, known for its association with stature. SHOX is present both on th…
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