HAND-CLASPING AND ARM-FOLDING - REVIEW AND A GENETIC MODEL

The literature on hand-clasping is reviewed and it is shown to be suitable for genetic analysis, there being no classification problems, sex differences, assortative mating or maternal inheritance. Further data from two studies of our own are reported. Two-allele genetic models are discussed and shown to be inadequate at explaining the data. A simple three-allele model will, however, fit all the available data adequately, and will also account for the east-west cline in left hand-clasping. The limited data on arm-folding were also consistent with the three-allele model. Hand-clasping, arm-folding and handedness were shown not to be correlated one with another nor to show simple genetic linkage. The genetic model is discussed in relation to the problem of asymmetry as a whole. © 1979 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.