title: Heritability of the Human Craniofacial Complex.
abstract: Quantifying normal variation and the genetic underpinnings of anatomical structures is one of the main goals of modern morphological studies. However, the extent of genetic contributions to normal variation in craniofacial morphology in humans is still unclear. The current study addresses this gap by investigating the genetic underpinnings of normal craniofacial morphology. The sample under investigation consists of 75 linear and angular measurements spanning the entire craniofacial complex, recorded from lateral cephalographs of 1,379 participants in the Fels Longitudinal Study. Heritabilities for each trait were estimated using SOLAR, a maximum-likelihood variance components approach utilizing all pedigree information for parameter estimation. Trait means and mean effects of the covariates age, sex, age(2) , sex × age, and sex × age(2) were simultaneously estimated in the analytic models. All traits of the craniofacial complex were significantly heritable. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.10 to 0.60, with the majority being moderate. It is important to note that we found similar ranges of heritability occurring across the different functional/developmental components of the craniofacial complex, the splanchnocranium, the basicranium, and the neurocranium. This suggests that traits from different regions of the craniofacial complex are of comparable utility for the purposes of population history and phylogeny reconstruction. At the same time, this genetic influence on craniofacial morphology signals a caution to researchers of nongenetic studies to consider the implications of this finding when selecting samples for study given their project design and goals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.|Department of Community Health, Division of Morphological Sciences and Biostatistics, Lifespan Health Research Center, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Šešelj
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Division of Morphological Sciences and Biostatistics, Lifespan Health Research Center, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.|Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.
authors.forename: Dana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Duren
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Division of Morphological Sciences and Biostatistics, Lifespan Health Research Center, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.|Department of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sherwood
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D001846:Bone Development / Q000235:genetics*; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005838:Genotype; D040941:Heredity; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D011859:Radiography; D012737:Sex Factors; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: craniofacial morphology; heritability; phylogeny reconstruction; population history