Evolutionary perspectives on human height variation

被引:133
作者
Stulp, Gert [1 ,2 ]
Barrett, Louise [3 ,4 ]
机构
[1] London Sch Hyg & Trop Med, Dept Populat Hlth, London WC1E 7HT, England
[2] Univ Groningen, Dept Sociol, NL-9712 TS Groningen, Netherlands
[3] Univ Lethbridge, Dept Psychol, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
[4] UNISA, Appl Behav Ecol & Ecosyst Res Unit, Johannesburg, South Africa
基金
加拿大自然科学与工程研究理事会;
关键词
height; human; natural selection; sexual selection; evolution; ecology; development; genetics; environment; reproductive success; SEXUAL SIZE DIMORPHISM; LIFE-HISTORY VARIATION; DIFFERENTIAL REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS; TRADE-OFFS EXPLAIN; ADULT BODY-HEIGHT; SHORT STATURE; MATERNAL HEIGHT; SCHOOL-CHILDREN; SECULAR CHANGES; KUNG-SAN;
D O I
10.1111/brv.12165
中图分类号
Q [生物科学];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
Human height is a highly variable trait, both within and between populations, has a high heritability, and influences the manner in which people behave and are treated in society. Although we know much about human height, this information has rarely been brought together in a comprehensive, systematic fashion. Here, we present a synthetic review of the literature on human height from an explicit evolutionary perspective, addressing its phylogenetic history, development, and environmental and genetic influences on growth and stature. In addition to presenting evidence to suggest the past action of natural selection on human height, we also assess the evidence that natural and sexual selection continues to act on height in contemporary populations. Although there is clear evidence to suggest that selection acts on height, mainly through life-history processes but perhaps also directly, it is also apparent that methodological factors reduce the confidence with which such inferences can be drawn, and there remain surprising gaps in our knowledge. The inability to draw firm conclusions about the adaptiveness of such a highly visible and easily measured trait suggests we should show an appropriate degree of caution when dealing with other human traits in evolutionary perspective.
引用
收藏
页码:206 / 234
页数:29
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