rs10736877 (C10orf90): Body Proportion and Sitting Height
Key takeaways
- rs10736877 near C10orf90 (chromosome 10 open reading frame 90) has been studied in connection with sitting height ratio, the fraction of total standing height contributed by the torso rather than the legs
- A genome-wide analysis of more than 25,000 people found that common genetic variants explain 26% to 39% of sitting height ratio variance, depending on ancestry
- Height-increasing variants do not uniformly lengthen all body segments - some preferentially extend the legs while others extend the spine or head, reflecting distinct biological pathways
- Six chromosomal regions reached genome-wide significance for sitting height ratio, with pathway analysis implicating genes involved in bone, cartilage, and growth plate biology
Key takeaways
- rs10736877 near C10orf90 (chromosome 10 open reading frame 90) has been studied in connection with sitting height ratio, the fraction of total standing height contributed by the torso rather than the legs
- A genome-wide analysis of more than 25,000 people found that common genetic variants explain 26% to 39% of sitting height ratio variance, depending on ancestry
- Height-increasing variants do not uniformly lengthen all body segments - some preferentially extend the legs while others extend the spine or head, reflecting distinct biological pathways
- Six chromosomal regions reached genome-wide significance for sitting height ratio, with pathway analysis implicating genes involved in bone, cartilage, and growth plate biology
What the research says A genome-wide association study of sitting height ratio (SHR, the proportion of total height coming from the torso) was conducted in 3,545 African Americans and 21,590 individuals of European ancestry, finding that common variants explain 26% of SHR variance in Europeans and 39% in African Americans. Global European admixture was negatively correlated with SHR in African Americans (r^2 approximately 0.03), indicating an ancestry-linked contribution to body proportions at the population level. Among 670 established height-associated variants, 130 showed nominal association with SHR (p < 0.05), far more than expected by chance (enrichment p = 5 x 10^-40), with 71 loci where the height-increasing allele reduces SHR (proportionally longer legs) and 59 where it increases SHR (proportionally longer spine or head).
Reported associations
- Sitting height ratio: This locus was examined in a genome-wide study of body proportions that identified genetic influences on the relative contribution of leg length versus spine and head length to total stature
- Differential body segment growth: The study found that height-associated loci act through at least two distinct mechanisms - disproportionate lengthening of the legs versus the spine or head - and pathway analyses via DEPICT showed that leg-length-affecting loci are enriched for bone, cartilage, and growth plate pathways, while loci with no SHR effect are enriched for embryonic development pathways
- Population-level body proportion: Global European admixture was negatively correlated with SHR in African Americans (r^2 approximately 0.03), a population-level finding from the same analysis
Evidence quality Evidence derives from a single genome-wide association study (Chan et al., American Journal of Human Genetics, 2015) in approximately 25,135 participants across European and African ancestry groups. Six regions reached genome-wide significance (p < 5 x 10^-8) for SHR, with biological candidate genes including TBX2 and IGFBP3 among the top-associated loci. DEPICT pathway analysis identified enrichment of bone, cartilage, and growth plate pathways among height loci that also affect SHR. The study reports genome-wide patterns and does not isolate a per-variant effect size for rs10736877 individually in the available data; no independent replication for this specific variant is provided in the source. Evidence should be considered preliminary.
Lifestyle considerations No lifestyle considerations on file for this variant.
Frequently asked questions
What is C10orf90?
C10orf90, short for chromosome 10 open reading frame 90, is a gene located on chromosome 10. It has been implicated in genetic research on body proportions, particularly the ratio of torso height to total standing height.
What is sitting height ratio and why does it matter genetically?
Sitting height ratio is the fraction of your total standing height accounted for by the torso when seated. A higher ratio means more of your height comes from the spine and head; a lower ratio means more comes from the legs. Research shows that about 26% to 39% of variation in this ratio is explained by common genetic variants, depending on ancestry.
Is rs10736877 associated with body proportions?
rs10736877 near C10orf90 was studied in a genome-wide analysis of sitting height ratio involving over 25,000 individuals. The study found that genetic variants at many loci shape how height is distributed between the legs and the torso, though the specific individual effect size for this variant was not reported separately in the available data.
How much of body proportion is determined by genetics?
According to a 2015 genome-wide study, common genetic variants explain approximately 26% of sitting height ratio variance in people of European ancestry and approximately 39% in African Americans, indicating meaningful but not complete genetic influence on body proportions.
What genes influence leg length versus torso length?
A 2015 genome-wide study identified six regions reaching genome-wide significance for sitting height ratio, with candidate genes including TBX2 and IGFBP3 among the top associations. Pathway analysis highlighted genes involved in bone, cartilage, and growth plate biology as particularly enriched among loci that affect leg length.