Growth pattern from birth to adulthood in African pygmies of known age

Fernando V. Ramirez Rozzi (), Yves Koudou, Alain Froment, Yves Le Bouc and Jérémie Botton
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Fernando V. Ramirez Rozzi: UPR 2147 CNRS, 44 rue de l’Amiral Mouchez
Yves Koudou: INSERM U1018, Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health and UMRS 1018, University of Paris-Sud
Alain Froment: Collections d’Anthropologie, Musée de l’Homme, MNHN
Yves Le Bouc: Centre de Recherche St-Antoine UMRS-938; Inserm; UPMC-Paris VI; Hôpital Armand Trousseau-APHP
Jérémie Botton: INSERM, UMR1153 Epidemiology and Biostatistics Sorbonne Paris Cité Center (CRESS), Team ‘Early Origin of the Child’s Health and Development’ (ORCHAD) and University Paris-Sud, Faculty of Pharmacy

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract The African pygmy phenotype stems from genetic foundations and is considered to be the product of a disturbance in the growth hormone–insulin-like growth factor (GH–IGF) axis. However, when and how the pygmy phenotype is acquired during growth remains unknown. Here we describe growth patterns in Baka pygmies based on two longitudinal studies of individuals of known age, from the time of birth to the age of 25 years. Body size at birth among the Baka is within standard limits, but their growth rate slows significantly during the first two years of life. It then more or less follows the standard pattern, with a growth spurt at adolescence. Their life history variables do not allow the Baka to be distinguished from other populations. Therefore, the pygmy phenotype in the Baka is the result of a change in growth that occurs during infancy, which differentiates them from East African pygmies revealing convergent evolution.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8672

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