title: Control of puberty:  genetics, endocrinology, and environment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this review is to summarize recent advances regarding the genetic components of the complex and coordinated process of puberty, an update of the genes implicated in disorders of puberty, the endocrinologic changes of puberty, and influences of environment in the light of our current understanding of the mechanism of the onset of puberty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The timing of puberty varies greatly in the general population among ethnic groups throughout the world, suggesting the genetic control of puberty. Several studies on the pathological conditions of pubertal onset provide unique information about the interactions of either the genetic susceptibility of or environmental influences on hypothalamic control of pubertal onset. However, these findings suggested that no isolated pathway or external factor is solely responsible for the neuroendocrine control of puberty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Puberty is initiated by gonadotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus followed by a complex sequence of endocrine changes and is regulated by both genetic and environmental factors. New attempts to use genetics and genomics might enhance our understanding of the spectrum of pubertal development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Han-Wook
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D042341:Gonadal Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000209:etiology; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011627:Puberty / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012741:Sexual Maturation
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D042341:Gonadal Hormones; C106628:KISS1 protein, human; D059648:Kisspeptins; C516326:LIN28B protein, human; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone