HUMAN-LEUKOCYTE ANTIGENS AND HAND PREFERENCE - PRELIMINARY-OBSERVATIONS

To date, no specific genetic markers have been associated with human h and preference. In this study, we examined relations between human leu kocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and hand preference. Based on established associations between handedness and autoimmune diseases related to HL A alleles, we predicted that left-handers would be more likely to poss ess the A1, B8, and DR3 alleles. In a sample of 664 individuals who fi lled out the Annett Handedness Questionnaire, these predictions were g enerally supported. fn addition, we found that left-handedness and the B8 allele were negatively related to number of offspring, after contr olling for age. These results are discussed in light of the developmen tal instability model of the origins of handedness, as well as single major gene models.