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Open AccessJournal ArticleDOI

Recent Advances in Handedness Genetics

Silvia Paracchini
- 26 Sep 2021 - 
- Vol. 13, Iss: 10, pp 1792
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TLDR
The latest findings from molecular genetic studies are reviewed as well as the implications of using different ways of assessing handedness, which demonstrate that handedness is a highly polygenic trait.
Abstract
Around the world, about 10% people prefer using their left-hand. What leads to this fixed proportion across populations and what determines left versus right preference at an individual level is far from being established. Genetic studies are a tool to answer these questions. Analysis in twins and family show that about 25% of handedness variance is due to genetics. In spite of very large cohorts, only a small fraction of this genetic component can be pinpoint to specific genes. Some of the genetic associations identified so far provide evidence for shared biology contributing to both handedness and cerebral asymmetries. In addition, they demonstrate that handedness is a highly polygenic trait. Typically, handedness is measured as the preferred hand for writing. This is a very convenient measure, especially to reach large sample sizes, but quantitative measures might capture different handedness dimensions and be better suited for genetic analyses. This paper reviews the latest findings from molecular genetic studies as well as the implications of using different ways of assessing handedness.

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Citations
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GWAS of 126,559 individuals identifies genetic variants associated with educational attainment

Cornelius A. Rietveld, +201 more
TL;DR: Three genetic loci are found to explain variation associated with educational achievement and provide promising candidate SNPs for follow-up work, and effect size estimates can anchor power analyses in social-science genetics.
Journal ArticleDOI

Cerebral Polymorphisms for Lateralisation: Modelling the Genetic and Phenotypic Architectures of Multiple Functional Modules

Chris McManus
- 14 Apr 2022 - 
TL;DR: The original, monogenic McManus DC (dextral-chance) model of handedness and language dominance is extended to multiple functional modules, and to a polygenic DC model compatible with the molecular genetics ofhandedness, and with the biology of visceral asymmetries found in primary ciliary dyskinesia.
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Insights Into Human and Nonhuman Primate Handedness From Measuring Both Hands

TL;DR: It is concluded that measurement matters in the science of handedness and a candidate behavior for promoting multidisciplinary comparison is role-differentiated bimanual manipulation.
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Quantitative multidimensional phenotypes improve genetic analysis of laterality traits

TL;DR: This article investigated the heritability of hand, as well as foot, and eye preference by assessing parental effects and SNP-based heritability in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).
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The development of hand, foot, trunk, hearing, and visual lateral preference throughout the lifespan

TL;DR: The authors investigated the developmental process of five lateral preference dimensions (hand, foot, trunk, hearing, and visual preference) and found a pattern of lateralization strengthening with aging in all the analyzed dimensions.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI

The assessment and analysis of handedness: The Edinburgh inventory

TL;DR: An inventory of 20 items with a set of instructions and response- and computational-conventions is proposed and the results obtained from a young adult population numbering some 1100 individuals are reported.
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Cohort Profile: The ‘Children of the 90s’—the index offspring of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children

TL;DR: The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a transgenerational prospective observational study investigating influences on health and development across the life course and is currently set up as a supported access resource.
Journal ArticleDOI

A classification of hand preference by association analysis.

TL;DR: An association analysis was made of the responses of young adults to a hand-preference questionnaire and it is believed to demonstrate that hand preference is distributed continuously and not discretely.
Journal ArticleDOI

A forkhead-domain gene is mutated in a severe speech and language disorder

TL;DR: It is suggested that the gene FOXP2, which encodes a putative transcription factor containing a polyglutamine tract and a forkhead DNA-binding domain, is involved in the developmental process that culminates in speech and language.
Related Papers (5)
Trending Questions (3)
How does handedness differ across different populations and cultures?

Handedness varies globally, with approximately 10% left-handed individuals. Genetic studies suggest about 25% of handedness is hereditary, but specific genes remain largely unidentified. Cultural influences on handedness are not discussed.

How many people are left-handed?

Around 10% of people are left-handed globally, with genetic studies suggesting that approximately 25% of handedness variation is due to genetics.

Is being left handed genetically determined?

Yes, genetic studies have shown that about 25% of handedness variance is due to genetics.