Thumb Dominance free essay sample

This experiment will determine whether for thumbs of clasped hands is a relationship between R-handedness or left handedness and which thumb is clasped on top of the other thumb. Question: * Does one inherited trait always influence another closely related trait? Research Reiss M. The genetics of hand-claspinga review and a familial study. Ann Hum Biol 1999 Jan-Feb; 26(1):39-48 Hand-clasping refers to the preferential tendency for individuals to clasp the hands together. This paper reviews the previous literature on family data and twins, and reports new data. In this study about 55% of the population are left-hand-claspers, 44% are right-hand-claspers, and the remaining 1% report that they have no preference or are indifferent. Familial data suggest that hand-clasping may be under genetic control: although the data do not fit any straightforward recessive or dominant Mendelian model, they are compatible with the type of model invoking fluctuating asymmetry which has been used to explain the inheritance of handedness and arm-folding. We will write a custom essay sample on Thumb Dominance or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is possible that hand-clasping, as for example arm-folding, may be an idiosyncrasy due to or influenced by physical bilateral differences in the hands. All data together are suggestive of a genetic basis, although environmental influences are also evident. http://www. bio. net/bionet/mm/neur-sci/2001-November/047260. html Hypothesis There is no correlation between which thumb is on top and the hand dominance when the hands are clasped. In this hypothesis we accept that these two characteristics are genetically unrelated. Data Collected Table 1: consists of all the data collected. Full data is located at the end of report. * Neither means that the subjects placed their thumbs side by side each other. Table 1: consists of all the data collected. Full data is located at the end of report. * Neither means that the subjects placed their thumbs side by side each other. # of Participant| Right handed| R. H. Dominate| L. H Dominate| Neither| Left handed| R. H. Dominate| L. H Dominate| Neither| 40| 30| 9| 17| 4| 10| 7| 2| 1| We were asked to gather information from subjects regarding right or left dominates. 0 subjects were approached and asked to clasps their hands together and if they were right or left handed. The data was collected categorised in the table above. The graph shows the total results collected. We were asked to gather information from subjects regarding right or left dominates. 40 subjects were approached and asked to clasps their hands together and if they were right or left handed. The data was collected categorised in the table above. The graph shows the total results collected. Table 2: consists of all the data compiled Table 2: consists of all the data compiled Conclusion This experiment was more interesting than I expected. At first I thought that everyone that was right handed would be left hand dominate and the opposite if they were left handed. I was intrigued to find out that this isn’t the case, after testing the first few subject I released that there are some people that don’t even naturally cross their thumbs, they just naturally place their thumbs side by side. Another interesting conclusion was my parents, I just assumed that the results would be the same as mine but they were completely opposite.