Study Links Rare Gene Variants to Left-Handedness

Research reveals genetic component in brain asymmetry development, contributing to our understanding of left-handedness.

A new study identifies rare variants of the gene TUBB4B as being more common in left-handed individuals, suggesting a genetic component to left-handedness.
These genetic variants in TUBB4B, related to cell shape and brain asymmetry, account for a small fraction of left-handedness, about 0.1 percent.
The study, analyzing over 350,000 individuals, contributes to understanding how brain asymmetry develops differently in left-handers.
Left-handedness is associated with a higher incidence of certain neurodevelopmental disorders, but most left-handed individuals do not have these conditions.
The findings may have implications for psychiatric research, suggesting a link between brain asymmetry genes and psychiatric traits.