For years, there has been much argument as to whether handedness is a inherited trait through parents or a learned behavior from our environment. Recent studies have begun to show that handedness is more than just an a learned behavior. It was first thought that a single gene may contribute …show more content…
Human brains are composed of two nearly identical halves, the left half and the right half. The left hemisphere of the brain controls the right side of the body and vice versa with the left. 70-95% of people show evidence of being controlled by the left hemisphere of their brains, and their dominant hand consequently being their right. (http://www.indiana.edu/~primate/brain.html) . as with anything in science, there has been recorded anomalies of people being right hemisphere controlled or showing no side specialization at all (http://www.indiana.edu/~primate/brain.html). Scientists use brain lateralization to disprove the theory that handedness is genetic, while others use it to support the theory that handedness is genetic.
With only 10% of the world’s population being left handed and 27% percent of left handers being twins, researches across the globe have tried to find the answer as to why these select few go against the social norm of right handedness and use their left instead. A recent study from the University of Nottingham and the University College of London have come out with new research and are stating that handedness is not genetic, but a learned behavior. In order to come to this conclusion, the organizations did a study on over 2,000 sets of twins. .( The Inquisitr …show more content…
Scientists now claim they have found a genes the help determine handedness. The first set of genes that may help determine are also the genes that develop the orientation of internal organs. Scientists suggest that while these genes develop where the organs are placed, they may contribute during development in the brain to determine handedness (Ghose). To prove this theory, Dr. William Brandler of Oxford University and his team of scientists conducted a test. In this test, Brandler had 728 people move a row of 10 pegs twice. They were instructed to first use their right hand and then use their left hand. Brandler’s team was then able to determine which hand was dominant on each of the test subjects by how much time was taken using each hand.(Ghose) The slower hand was determined to be the less dominant hand and the faster one was thought to be the dominant. Brandler then took an analysis of all the genes of the test subjects. He later identified several genes that could play a role in determining handedness. To prove his theory, he did the same test on a larger group of people. The gene thought to be most predominant in determining handedness is PCSK6. PCSK6 is the gene that develops left and right sided parts while in our mothers wombs. It is theorized that while PCSK6 is developing our right and left sides, it is also influencing the way our brains are lateralized. A brain that is