Dyslexia Breakthrough as Gene Link Between Left-handedness and Reading Difficulties is Found - featured November 8, 2010
< Back to Previous Page[Source: The Daily Mail]
A genetic variant has been discovered that appears to link handedness and reading ability. Children with a particular version of the gene, called PCSK6, have a right hand that is unusually dominant and are also poor at reading.
The finding provides the first genetic evidence supporting an association between handedness and dyslexia. Most people are right-handed. Since the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, this implies that the left brain chiefly governs motor functions.
A majority of individuals also have a left-hemisphere dominance for language function. Because of these links, it has been suggested that the bias towards right-handedness arose as a result of the evolution of language.
In addition, great apes - who lack language - do not display the striking bias towards right handedness seen in humans.
Read the Rest of this Article on the Daily Mail.com
A genetic variant has been discovered that appears to link handedness and reading ability. Children with a particular version of the gene, called PCSK6, have a right hand that is unusually dominant and are also poor at reading.
The finding provides the first genetic evidence supporting an association between handedness and dyslexia. Most people are right-handed. Since the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, this implies that the left brain chiefly governs motor functions.
A majority of individuals also have a left-hemisphere dominance for language function. Because of these links, it has been suggested that the bias towards right-handedness arose as a result of the evolution of language.
In addition, great apes - who lack language - do not display the striking bias towards right handedness seen in humans.
Read the Rest of this Article on the Daily Mail.com
