
Lazyandtalentless
Joined: 1 Second Ago
★★★★★
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2024
- Posts
- 7,117
This study, conducted by Gert Stulp et al. (2015) using data from the LifeLines cohort, investigates whether natural selection favors taller stature among the Dutch population.
Research Question
Does natural selection, in addition to environmental factors, contribute to the tall stature of the Dutch?Data Source
- LifeLines cohort study (n = 94,516 initially, n = 42,612 after exclusions).
KEY FINDINGS
- Taller Men Had Higher Reproductive Success: This is a central finding. Across the three decades studied (1935-1967), taller men consistently had a greater number of children born and a greater number of children surviving.
- Average Height Women Had Highest Reproductive Success: In contrast to the findings for men, women of average height experienced the greatest reproductive success.
- Taller Individuals Had Later Age at First Birth: Both taller men and women tended to have their first child later in life. Despite this, taller men still had higher overall reproductive success.
- Taller Women Had Higher Child Survival: Even in the Netherlands, which is a low-mortality population, taller women experienced higher rates of child survival, which contributed positively to their increased reproductive success.
Implications
The study suggests that:- Natural selection, alongside environmental factors, may be driving the increase in height observed in the Dutch population.