The study authors predicted genetic variants could influence 50 percent of variations in height. Indeed, the 12,111 genes explained differences in height for 40 percent of people of European ancestry.

Short people don’t just save resources; as resources become scarcer owing to overpopulation and global warming, they may also be best suited for long-term survival.

A study of 5.4 million people has revealed that over 12,000 genetic variants have an influence on height differences among those with European ancestry. The findings could deepen our understanding ...