Global average height increased steadily until the 1980s with little fluctuation Chart showing average global height over time, increasing since the late 1800s and plateauing in the 1980s.

It's no secret that if your dad is tall and your mother is tall, you are probably going to be tall. But fully understanding the genetics of height has been a big order for scientists.

In a study of mouse and human genes, scientists pinpointed 145 genes that regulate the cartilage cells in kid's growth plates and could determine how tall they grow.

Kin_Taburo // Shutterstock How human height has changed over time—and what might be behind it A man with a beard and a black t-shirt measures his height with a tape measure.

Average human height in countries such as the U.S., U.K., and Japan has leveled off at around 5 feet and 10 inches over the last few decades.