Re: What gene expresses the way in which an individual folds their hands?

Hi Jacqueline!

The "hand clasping pattern" is often invoked as a classroom example of a 
Mendelian trait.  According to the OMIM database (Online Mendelian 
Inheritancce in Man), there is evidence that hand clasping is under genetic 
control, although probably not due to a single genetic locus.  The OMIM 
citation is below; to look up references, try going to the OMIM site: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/omim 
.  You can look up reference # 139800.

Hope this helps,
Amanda Kahn

++++++++++++++++++++++++OMIM reference follows+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

139800
                                                                                                                
HAND CLASPING PATTERN


TEXT 

From twin data, Freire-Maia (1961) concluded that hand clasping is 
determined by genetic factors to some (perhaps an important) extent. If in
clasping the hands with entwining fingers those of the right hand are 
positioned above the corresponding fingers of the left hand, the individual 
is
classified as R with the converse labeled L. The R frequency is higher in 
females than in males. Lai and Walsh (1965) doubted that genetic factors
are significant in determining this trait. Falk and Ayala (1971) found 
significant parent-offspring correlations and suggested polygenic 
inheritance.
Martin (1975) presented twin data that he concluded exclude genetic 
determination. 

Reiss (1999) found that 55% of the population are left-hand claspers, 44% 
are right-hand claspers, and the remaining 1% have no preference.
They mapped the incidence of left-hand clasping in various population 
worldwide and reviewed 18 family studies.

SEE ALSO 

Ferronato et al. (1974); Pons (1961) 

REFERENCES 

1. Falk, C. T.; Ayala, F. J. : 
       Genetic aspects of arm folding and hand clasping. Jpn. J. Hum. Genet. 
15: 241-247, 1971. 

2. Ferronato, S.; Thomas, D.; Sadava, D. : 
       Preferences for handedness, arm folding, and hand clasping in 
families. Hum. Hered. 24: 345-351, 1974. 
       PubMed ID : 4461659 

3. Freire-Maia, A. : 
       Twin data on hand clasping: a reanalysis. Acta Genet. Statist. Med. 
10: 207-211, 1961. 

4. Lai, L. Y. C.; Walsh, R. J. : 
       The patterns of hand clasping in different ethnic groups. Hum. Biol. 
37: 312-319, 1965. 
       PubMed ID : 5836191 

5. Martin, N. G. : 
       No evidence for a genetic basis of tongue rolling or hand clasping. 
J. Hered. 66: 179-180, 1975. 
       PubMed ID : 1236879 

6. Pons, J. : 
       Hand clasping (Spanish data). Ann. Hum. Genet. 25: 141-144, 1961. 

7. Reiss, M. : 
       The genetics of hand-clasping--a review and a familial study. Ann. 
Hum. Biol. 26: 39-48, 1999. 
       PubMed ID : 9974082 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Victor A. McKusick - updated : 6/17/1999

CREATION DATE 

Victor A. McKusick : 6/4/1986

EDIT HISTORY 

jlewis : 6/23/1999
terry : 6/17/1999
terry : 6/5/1998
mimadm : 9/24/1994
supermim : 3/16/1992
supermim : 3/20/1990
ddp : 10/27/1989
marie : 3/25/1988
root : 1/12/1988

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