Genetic regions contributing to facial shapes read more at here www.spinonews.com/index.php/item/710-genetic-regions-contributing-to-facial-shapes

A person's facial shape is controlled by one's genes, but scientists don't yet understand how genetic variation contributes to the range of healthy shapes and sizes that human faces take.

To identify these variants, John Shaffer and his colleagues from University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania performed a genome-wide association study in PLOS genetics.

They looked for associations between 20 facial characteristics measured from 3D images of 3,118 healthy individuals with European ancestry and almost one million single base pair variations called SNPs, located across the genome. 

Distance between the eyes, size of the nose and distance between the lips and eyes all had statistically significant associations with certain SNPs.

Dr. Seth Weinberg, associate professor in oral biology, says, the identified genetic associations with facial features not previously described in earlier genome-wide studies. these associations involve chromosomal region harboring gene with known craniofacial function.

These findings can provide insights into the role of genes play in the formation of the face and improve understanding of the causal factors leading to certain craniofacial birth defects.    

Researchers detected by the several genetic regions contributing to face shape. They contain genes play a crucial role in facial development and facial abnormalities.

These findings represent only a small fraction of the genes influencing size and shape of the human face. Because many of the genes influencing facial morphology are likely to have small effects.