Scalp hair-whorl orientation of Japanese individuals is random; hence, the trait's distribution is not genetically determined

Study Supports a Current Genetic Model for Inheritance of Human Scalp Hair-Whorl Orientation and Hand-Use Preference Traits

Association between scalp hair-whorl direction and hemispheric language dominance.

Asymmetry is a common phenomenon in higher organisms. In humans, the cortical representation of language exhibits a high degree of asymmetry with a prevalence of about 90% of left hemispheric dominance, the underlying mechanisms of which are largely unknown. Another sign that exhibits a form of lateralization is the scalp hair-whorl direction, which is either clockwise or anti-clockwise. The sc...

A 1927 study supports a current genetic model for inheritance of human scalp hair-whorl orientation and hand-use preference traits.

The basis of right- vs. left-hand-use preference in humans has been debated for a long time. Culturally learned, birth stress, and biologically specified causes are the prominent etiologies under consideration. A 2003 (Klar 2003) study reported a correlation between a person's preferred hand and the scalp hair-whorl orientation developed on the head. By reinterpreting results of a 1927 (Schwarz...

Mouse Gestation Length Is Genetically Determined

BACKGROUND Preterm birth is an enormous public health problem, affecting over 12% of live births and costing over $26 billion in the United States alone. The causes are complex, but twin studies support the role of genetics in determining gestation length. Despite widespread use of the mouse in studies of the genetics of preterm birth, there have been few studies that actually address the preci...

P-value: What is and what is not

The misinterpretation and misuse of p-value have been increasing for decades. In March 2016, the American Statistical Association released a statement to warn about the use and interpretation of p-value. In this study, we provided a definition and discussion of p-value and emphasized the importance of its accurate interpretation.