Researchers at Harvard Medical School have mapped a broad set of genetic factors that influence the development and size of cartilage, revealing about 150 genes that can determine how tall a person may become. The work was published in Cell Genomics, underscoring a significant step forward in understanding the biology of bone growth and skeletal development.
At the heart of this discovery are the growth plates—the regions at the ends of long bones where cartilage cells, called chondrocytes, divide and mature to shape future bone length and form. These growth plates drive the final architecture of the skeleton during childhood and adolescence. As growth completes, these cartilaginous zones thin and are progressively replaced by dense bone, marking the end of lengthening and the transformation of cartilage into hard tissue that supports the mature skeleton.
To uncover the genetic contributors to cartilage growth, the team examined a vast dataset of 600 million mouse cartilage cells. They systematically inactivated each candidate gene to observe the consequences for cell growth and maturation. This approach identified 145 genes whose silencing altered the normal trajectory of cartilage cell development, producing changes that mirrored patterns seen in certain skeletal conditions. One clear example is skeletal dysplasia, a group of disorders characterized by short stature and shortened limbs among other features. The findings offer a roadmap to better understand how these genes shape skeletal form and how disruptions may lead to disease.
While there is recognition that findings in mouse models do not always replicate human biology perfectly, researchers are optimistic about the translational potential. The genes highlighted in this study provide a foundation for future work aimed at predicting growth outcomes, diagnosing growth-related disorders earlier, and exploring targeted strategies to correct or mitigate abnormal cartilage development in humans. By building a more precise map of the genetic control over growth plates, scientists hope to improve care for individuals affected by skeletal dysplasias and related conditions, and to refine our broader understanding of human height variation.