Comparative skeletal features between Homo floresiensis and patients with primary growth hormone insensitivity (Laron Syndrome)

Israel Hershkovitz*, Liora Kornreich, Zvi Laron

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Comparison between the skeletal remains of Homo floresiensis and the auxological and roentgenological findings in a large Israeli cohort of patients with Laron Syndrome (LS, primary or classical GH insensitivity or resistance) revealed striking morphological similarities, including extremely small stature and reduced cranial volume. LS is an autosomal recessive disease caused by a molecular defect of the Growth Hormone (GH) receptor or in the post-receptor cascades. Epidemiological studies have shown that LS occurs more often in consanguineous families and isolates, and it has been described in several countries in South East Asia. It is our conclusion that the findings from the island of Flores, which were attributed to a new species of the genus Homo, may in fact represent a local, highly inbred, Homo sapiens population in whom a mutation for the GH receptor had occurred.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)198-208
Number of pages11
JournalAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology
Volume134
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2007

Keywords

  • GH receptor
  • Homo floresiensis
  • Human evolution
  • Laron syndrome

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