Growth pattern from birth to adulthood in African pygmies of known age

The African pygmy phenotype stems from genetic foundations and is considered to be the product of a disturbance in the growth hormone–insulin-like growth factor (GH–IGF) axis. However, when and how the pygmy phenotype is acquired during growth remains unknown. Here we describe growth patterns in Bak...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature communications 2015-07, Vol.6 (1), p.7672-7672, Article 7672
Main Authors: Rozzi, Fernando V. Ramirez, Koudou, Yves, Froment, Alain, Le Bouc, Yves, Botton, Jérémie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
631/181/19/2471
631/181/2474
Adolescent
Adolescent Development
Adult
African Continental Ancestry Group
Biological anthropology
Body Height - ethnology
Body Size - ethnology
Child
Child Development
Child, Preschool
Female
Growth Charts
Humanities and Social Sciences
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Longitudinal Studies
Male
multidisciplinary
Phenotype
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The African pygmy phenotype stems from genetic foundations and is considered to be the product of a disturbance in the growth hormone–insulin-like growth factor (GH–IGF) axis. However, when and how the pygmy phenotype is acquired during growth remains unknown. Here we describe growth patterns in Baka pygmies based on two longitudinal studies of individuals of known age, from the time of birth to the age of 25 years. Body size at birth among the Baka is within standard limits, but their growth rate slows significantly during the first two years of life. It then more or less follows the standard pattern, with a growth spurt at adolescence. Their life history variables do not allow the Baka to be distinguished from other populations. Therefore, the pygmy phenotype in the Baka is the result of a change in growth that occurs during infancy, which differentiates them from East African pygmies revealing convergent evolution. The African pygmies are known for their short stature, yet it is unclear when and how this phenotype is acquired during growth. Here the authors show that the pygmies’ small stature results primarily from slow growth during infancy.
ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/ncomms8672