Genetic Component of Handedness

Completed

Conditions studied: Healthy

In brief

Some functions are generally controlled by the right side of the brain and others by the left. One of the most easily observed examples of this "lateral specialization" of the brain is handedness-that is, a person's preference for using either the right or the left hand. This study will try to determine how the genetic component of handedness is inherited. It will test the theory that a single gene is involved in determining handedness and will try to locate the gene. Families with at least two left-handed siblings aged eight years or older and at least one right-handed parent are eligible to participate in this study. The left-handed siblings and both parents will fill out a brief questionnaire on hand usage, obtain a tissue sample taken from inside the cheek, and return the questionnaire and the sample by mail to the study researchers. The tissue sample will be used for DNA gene mapping. Participants will be given a kit and instructions for obtaining the sample, along with mailing envelopes. Cheek swab sampling basically involves using a small brush to gently brush a layer of cells off of the inner wall of the cheek and then dropping the brush tip into a preservative. The information gained from this study may provide insight into aspects of brain development that can be of medical benefit in the future.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00005003

Run by

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

People needed

1400

Starts

2000-03-01

Expected to finish

2006-04-01

Last updated by the study team

2008-03-04

Who can join

Age: any. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Members of families meeting the following criteria are eligible to participate:
• Have two left-handed siblings.
• Have at least one right-handed parent with no other known left-handed first degree relatives.

You may not qualify if…

• All members of a family may be excluded if the right-handed parents or the left-handed siblings will not participate.
• Individuals in families whose left-handed siblings are under the age of eight are not eligible to participate.

Where it is running

• National Cancer Institute (NCI) — Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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