Are you left or right handed?

by **James** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 12:08 pm

I have seen data that says 90% of the population are right handed. Why is this, and what makes some of us left handed :?:

by **biostudent84** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 1:59 pm

Dominant hands are based mostly on genetics and partially on enviornmental factors. However, you cannot accurately genotype anyone with a Punnet square because dominant hands are decided by a number of different genes.

((I voted Right-handed, although I've been working to become ambidexterous:)))

by **mith** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 8:21 pm

I heard a study somewhere that says since lefties are more likely to die from operating equipment designed for righties, they should have died out. But here's the hypothesis, a lefty would be a better fighter in hand-to-hand combat, which is why there are still some lefties. Since righties don't usually fight lefties but lefties regularly fight righties, the lefties would have the advantage of surprise. To ascertain this, the researchers measure this in aboriginal tribes and indeed there were a higher percentage of lefties in those pre-firearm groups than in modern society. Also this only applied to groups that constantly waged war as opposed to the peaceniks.

by **ERS** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:00 pm

Does anyone do a certain number of activities with one particular handedness and another set of activities with the opposite handedness?

ERS

by **biostudent84** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:06 pm

I noticed that I can drive one-handed with my left hand better than with my right hand.

by **James** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 11:45 pm

But are dominant hands purely genetic, Can our environment (upbringing) change our dominant hand from our expected dominant hand?

by **biostudent84** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 12:33 am

Enviornmental factors are always influential toward hand dominance. One example is the "mirror theory" which is most commonly found in the eldest children. If a child thinks he/she wants to be just like his/her parents, they will mirror everything they do. This includes eating, and if the parent raises their right hand, then the child will mirror with the left. This will condition the child to be left-handed.

Kyle

by **MrMistery** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 6:58 pm

A recent study shows that, even though it is possible to force a child to use his non-dominant hand, it is not recommneded as this can cause trauma of the nervous system, contribuing to the development of despresion. By the way, the mirror theory is generally NOT accepted any more. It is still unde debate though

by **MrMistery** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 7:02 pm

@ERS
I have a guy that is in my class at school that is like that. He writes with his right hand because his parents forced him tobut he does everything else with his left hand
As i said before, it is not advised to do that

by **biostudent84** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 7:29 pm

MrMistery wrote:A recent study shows that, even though it is possible to force a child to use his non-dominant hand, it is not recommneded as this can cause trauma of the nervous system, contribuing to the development of despresion. By the way, the mirror theory is generally NOT accepted any more. It is still unde debate though

I'm glad this Catholic was born right handed

Thanks for the update on the mirror theory.

by **MrMistery** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 7:42 pm

Glad to be of service, master *takes a bow*

by **James** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 11:58 pm

So are there any other animals that have dominant hands/limbs?