We identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for structure phenotypes on chromosomes 3, 8, 10, 12, 17 and 20, and QTLs for strength phenotypes on chromosomes 5, 10 and 11 that met a conservative genome-wide empiric significance threshold (FDR=5%; P<3×10-6). Importantly, most QTLs were localized to very narrow genomic regions (as small as 0.3Mb and up to 3Mb), each harboring a small set of candidate genes, both novel and previously shown to have roles in skeletal development and homeostasis.
