Scientists sniff out genes controlling human nose shapes

Study uncovers genes which help control the shape of our noses, a finding researchers believe will offer insights into our evolutionary past

A collection of genes that underpin the shape of the human nose have been discovered in a study into our facial features.

Scientists scanned the genomes of around 6,000 individuals to unpick why some people have narrow, pointy noses, while others have broad bridges or wide nostrils. The upshot was the discovery of four genes which are involved in controlling the shape of our nasal apparatus, with another gene found to affect how much the chin juts out.