Height is determined by a combination of genetic factors and environmental influences. While it is true that genetics play a significant role in determining a person's height, it is not uncommon for individuals to exhibit height variations that might not be directly explained by the heights of their immediate family members.
Here are some key points to consider regarding height inheritance:
Genetic Variation: Height is influenced by multiple genes from both parents. Each parent contributes a set of genes that can affect a person's height. The combination of these genes can lead to a wide range of possible heights, even within the same family.
Recessive and Dominant Genes: Height-related genes can be dominant or recessive. This means that a child might inherit certain height genes from grandparents or even more distant ancestors, leading to variations in height that might not directly align with the heights of their parents.
Environmental Factors: Nutrition, health, and overall living conditions during childhood and adolescence can also influence a person's height. Adequate nutrition and proper care during growth years can help individuals reach their maximum genetic height potential.
Mutation and New Genetic Variations: Occasionally, new genetic mutations can lead to changes in height-related genes, resulting in taller or shorter individuals compared to their immediate family members.
Individual Differences: Height inheritance is complex, and not every individual within a family will inherit the same combination of height genes, leading to variations in height among siblings.
It is entirely possible for a person to be significantly taller or shorter than their immediate family members due to the interplay of these genetic and environmental factors. In Michael Jordan's case, while his parents and immediate family might have been of average height, the combination of genetic factors and possibly environmental factors likely contributed to him reaching the height of 6'6".