Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
07:06
Block Building Task Identifies Distinct Groups of Left/Right-hand Choice Patterns After Unilateral Peripheral Nerve Injury
Published on: March 21, 2025
Genome-wide association study of handedness excludes simple genetic models
J A L Armour1, A Davison1, I C McManus2
1School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Heredity
|September 26, 2013
Summary
Genetic factors influencing human handedness (the tendency to favor one hand) remain unclear. This study found no significant genetic loci associated with handedness in twins, challenging simple inheritance models.
Area of Science:
- Human genetics
- Behavioral science
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Handedness is a common human trait with unclear genetic underpinnings.
- Existing models of handedness inheritance have not been definitively tested or supported by genetic evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic basis of handedness variation.
- To test proposed genetic models of handedness using genome-wide data.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from 3940 twins.
- Statistical analysis to identify genetic loci associated with handedness.
Main Results:
- No specific genetic locus reached genome-wide significance for association with handedness.
- The simplest versions of the 'right-shift' and 'dextral/chance' models are less likely to explain handedness.
- The study lacked power to detect small polygenic effects (odds ratio < 1.2).
Conclusions:
- The genetic architecture of handedness is complex and not explained by simple Mendelian models.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to detect smaller genetic effects influencing handedness.
Related Concept Videos
01:11Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS
Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
01:28Human Genetics
Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
01:11Genetic Lingo
Overview
01:23Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs
Behavior genetics explores how genetic inheritance influences human behavior. It focuses on how genes, passed from parents to offspring, contribute to the development of behavioral traits and tendencies. This branch of genetics seeks to understand the complex interplay between inherited genetic factors and environmental influences in shaping our behaviors.
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
01:43Incomplete Dominance
Gregor Mendel's work (1822 - 1884) was primarily focused on pea plants. Through his initial experiments, he determined that every gene in a diploid cell has two variants called alleles inherited from each parent. He suggested that amongst these two alleles, one allele is dominant in character and the other recessive. The combination of alleles determines the phenotype of a gene in an organism.
01:06Heritability
Heritability is a statistical concept that measures the degree to which genetic differences among individuals contribute to trait variations within a population. It is a fundamental idea in genetics, often prone to misinterpretation. Heritability is expressed as a percentage, reflecting the proportion of variation in a specific trait across a population that can be linked to genetic differences. However, it's important to understand that heritability does not determine how "genetic" a trait is,...