#  Natural selection favoured shorter bones to COMBAT THE COLD, increasing the risk of osteoarthritis 

 





July 06, 2017

 

 

- [ Coverage on Nature Genetics GDF5 and Height Paper ](/news-categories/coverage-nature-genetics-gdf5-and-height-paper)
 
 

 

Researchers at [Stanford University](http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2017/07/decreasing-height-increasing-arthritis-risk-evolutionarily.html) and [Harvard University](http://www.harvard.edu/) have found that mutations in the GDF5 gene associated with shorter stature allowed our ancestors to migrate from Africa to frigid parts of the North 50,000-100,000 years ago. However, these same mutations are associated with a nearly twofold increased risk of osteoarthritis.

**Source:** OaFi (Osteoarthritis Foundation International)

**Link:** [Full Text](https://www.oafifoundation.com/en/natural-selection-favoured-shorter-bones-to-survive-ice-age-increasing-the-risk-of-osteoarthritis/)



 

 

 



 

 

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