Specific genes linked to size and shape of the face

[I]n a new study, researchers tried to make sense of how a person’s genes are linked to his or her appearance.

“We know from twin studies…that some parts of the face seem to have a very strong genetic component,” said Seth Weinberg…”However, very little is known about the specific genes involved in determining differences in the size and shape of various facial features in humans.”

[T]he researchers took 3D images of more than 3,100 individuals and looked for associations between their facial features and nearly 1 million genetic variations from across the human genome.

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Of the 20 facial measurements examined, five were linked with specific regions of the genome…These measurements included width of the face, distance between the eyes, depth and width of the nose, and depth of the face, or the approximate distance from the middle of the ear to the top of the nose.

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[R]esearch like this could offer insights into the causes of conditions such as cleft lip or cleft palate…These are among the most common of all birth defects.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: Facial Features and Genes: Study Taps New Connections