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This is Scientific American’s 60-Second Science, I’m Karen Hopkin. This will take a minute.

For those of you who love a tall tale, the list of genetic² variations that determine human height has just experienced a growth spurt³. The findings were published by the journal Nature.

Height has a lot to do with genetics. If your parents don’t need a step stool to reach the top shelf, you’re probably right up there, too. About 80 percent of height is due to DNA⁴. The rest depends on diet and other environmental factors.

In the new study, researchers analyzed⁵ DNA from more than 180,000 people, looking for genetic differences that dictate⁶ height. The scientists, part of a consortium called the Genetic Investigation⁷ of Anthropocentric Traits (or GIANT), found 180 gene¹ regions that govern how tall we get.

The variants⁸, 100 of which were previously⁹ unknown, aren’t sprinkled randomly¹⁰ around the genome. Many cluster around sets of genes¹¹ associated with growth, including 21 variants found in or near genes that regulate the building of bone.

Of course even this new list comes up short. The 180 variations account for only 10 percent of the difference between a jockey and a jumpshooter. But the work shows that research into complex genetic traits is getting off the ground.

Thanks for the minute, for Scientific American’s 60-Second Science, I’m Karen Hopkin.

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1 gene
n.遗传因子，基因
参考例句：
A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。 The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

2 genetic
adj.遗传的，遗传学的
参考例句：
It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。 Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

3 spurt
v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆
参考例句：
He put in a spurt at the beginning of the eighth lap.他进入第八圈时便开始冲刺。 After a silence, Molly let her anger spurt out.沉默了一会儿，莫莉的怒气便迸发了出来。

4 DNA
(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸
参考例句：
DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。 Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

5 analyzed
v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析
参考例句：
The doctors analyzed the blood sample for anemia. 医生们分析了贫血的血样。来自《简明英汉词典》 The young man did not analyze the process of his captivation and enrapturement, for love to him was a mystery and could not be analyzed. 这年轻人没有分析自己蛊惑著迷的过程，因为对他来说，爱是个不可分析的迷。来自《简明英汉词典》

6 dictate
v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令
参考例句：
It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。 What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

7 investigation
n.调查，调查研究
参考例句：
In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。 He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

8 variants
n.变体( variant的名词复数 )；变种；变型；（词等的）变体
参考例句：
Those variants will be preserved in the'struggle for existence". 这些变异将在“生存竞争”中被保留下来。来自辞典例句 Like organisms, viruses have variants, generally called strains. 与其他生物一样，病毒也有变种，一般称之为株系。来自辞典例句

9 previously
adv.以前，先前（地）
参考例句：
The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。 Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

10 randomly
adv.随便地，未加计划地
参考例句：
Within the hot gas chamber, molecules are moving randomly in all directions. 在灼热的气体燃烧室内，分子在各个方向上作无规运动。来自辞典例句 Transformed cells are loosely attached, rounded and randomly oriented. 转化细胞则不大贴壁、圆缩并呈杂乱分布。来自辞典例句

11 genes
n.基因( gene的名词复数 )
参考例句：
You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。来自《简明英汉词典》 Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪