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by Daydreamer on July 28th, 2005

Daydreamer

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Is each generation of humans becoming taller than the last? If so, why?

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  • by Scoundral on July 31st, 2005

    Scoundral

    According to numerous national surveys, Americans today are an average of 1 inch taller than they were in 1960 (last generation, apprx). According to "1001 nights" (bka "Arabian Nights"), which were written circa 1200 ce, a woman was considered tall if she reached a height of 5 feet. Armor of medieval and rennaisance nobles was found to be of very limited stature.

    Yes, humans as an average are getting taller, the mean height of people today might have been considered tall in yesteryears. The number one reason is better knowledge of nutrition. Knowing which vitamins are needed, especially for children, makes all the differance in growth.

    Also the mixing of genes is arguably another cause. Being tall is a dominant trait, meaning if a short person and a (purely) tall person produce offspring, the odds are 3/4 the child will be tall. Many "breeds" of people are genetically tall (Northern Europeans, East Africans, Oceanics) and their genes falling into the gene pool have led to a spur in the world's growth. Take blonde hair, for example... it comes from primarilly from the Netherlands but we see blondes everyday, and that's a recessive trait. Nordic blood is the reason so many blondes tend to be tall.

    Being tall is generally considered more attractive than short, no? So tall people begetmore tall people.

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