Authors: Warren, Diane¹; Stern, Michael²; Duggirala, Ravindranath¹; Dyer, Thomas¹; Almasy, Laura¹

Source: Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain, and Cognition, Volume 11, Number 6, November 2006 , pp. 508-524(17)

Publisher: Psychology Press, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Abstract:

Functional lateralities are of interest due to their relationship with cerebral lateralisation and language development. However, genes influencing sidedness remain elusive. We measured direction and consistency of hand, foot, and eye preference in 584 Mexican-Americans from families participating in the San Antonio Family Diabetes/Gallbladder Study. Using maximum-likelihood-based variance components methods, we estimated weak (.11 ≤ h 2 ≤.17) but significant heritability for foot preference, eye preference, several hand preferences (writing, drawing, throwing, using scissors, using spoon, striking match), and a composite hand preference trait. Self-reported handedness was significantly heritable (h 2 =.57), whereas hand preference for opening a box or using a toothbrush or knife was not. Many trait pairs had significant genetic correlations, and all had significant environmental correlations. Using genome-wide multipoint linkage screens using 382 highly informative autosomal STR markers, we identified suggestive linkage signals for drawing (LOD 2.10) and writing (LOD 2.00) hand preference on chromosome 12q21-23, in the region flanked by markers D12S1300 and PAH. A suggestive signal (LOD 2.46) for eye preference occurred on chromosome 22pter, near marker D22S420. No obvious candidate genes occur in these regions. Our results indicate that genes are an important component of side preferences, and suggest chromosomal regions for further investigation.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13576500600761056

Affiliations: 1: Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, TX, USA 2: University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA

Publication date: 2006-11-01

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