Growth is all in genes

As the role of environment cannot be undermined in the growth of a child, so does the role of the genes cannot be undermined? The genetic traits of the parents pass on to the children. The traits like the height, the size and shape of the hands and the feet, the type of the hairs, the structure of the chest and the distribution of the fatty tissue in the body are all determined by the genotype.

It is seen that the intelligence quotient is also transferred to the children. If the parents have better IQ then the children also share the same values of IQ with the parents. But if the parents have lower IQs then the children by default are going to have the same unless environmental changes are done to rectify the changes. And the environmental changes are by imparting education that is flawless and by effort.

The growth potential of race is also an important contributing factor in the growth of a child. It is seen that some races are genetically taller than the other races. Sex has also effects on growth. It is generally seen that at birth the boys have better weight than the girls, but as they grow it is seen that the girls hit the growth spurt earlier than the boys. But as they attain sexual maturity the rate of the growth shifts in favor of the boys. That means that the boys have better height and weight than the girls in the same age category after they have attained the sexual maturity. So the race and sex do have important role in the growth of a child.

It is seen that certain trends of the mothers are transmitted to the daughters. The daughters attain the menarche in the same age their mothers have attained. It is not just that the age of attaining the menarche remains same; there are even other menstrual issues that remain the same. And these issues include the duration of the cycle and the amount of flow in the cycles too.

And the most important thing that affects growth is the genetic disorders if any pertaining to growth and metabolism. There may be certain chromosomal mutations that may result in the appearance of Turner’s syndrome or Down’s syndrome. These syndromes cause severe growth retardation. Besides there may be mutations in the genes which causes severe disturbances in the metabolism causing crippling growth or stopping growth even. These are caused by certain diseases caused in the formation of proteins, collagen, bones and other factors that are indispensable for growth.

With the background in all these discussions I feel it prudent to say that genetics has a special say in the growth of a child. I may agree that the say may not be complete but it is important.