"In 2007 we published the first paper that identified the first common height gene, and since then the research has come on leaps and bounds. We have now identified nearly 700 genetic variants that are involved in determining height," said co-senior investigator Timothy Frayling, of the University of Exeter, UK.

Many of the 697 height-related genetic variants were located near genes known to be involved in growth.

"Many of the genes we identified are likely to be important regulators of skeletal growth, but were not known to be involved until now," said Hirschhorn.

"Some may also be responsible for unexplained syndromes of abnormal skeletal growth in children," he said.

For example, the mTOR gene is well known to be involved in cellular growth, but had not previously been connected with human skeletal growth.

Other genes confirmed as important include genes involved in metabolism of collagen (a component of bone) and chondroitin sulfate (a component of cartilage), as well as networks of genes active in growth plates, the area of growing tissue near the ends of the long bones.

The findings are published in the journal Nature Genetics.

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