Gene for left-handedness is found

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Bill Clinton, Benjamin Franklin, George H.W. Bush , Napoleon ,Bonaparte , Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Ludwig van Beethoven, Amitab Bachchan, Angelina Jolie, Leo Tolstoy, Mike Tyson and many more to follow this list. If you guessed that I am listing out the outstanding persons in different fields; you are mistaken. These people not only are known for being excellent in their respective fields but also belong to a particular group, the Left Handers. One out of every ten people walking down the street is left-handed. And the misery in being left handed is that Everywhere they go, left-handed people come across tools that were designed for right handed persons.

Pondering over left handedness is relevant today as The Oxford University-led team of scientists have discovered the first gene which appears to increase the odds of being left-handed. They believe carrying the gene may also slightly raise the risk of developing psychotic mental illness such as schizophrenia, a condition often linked to unusual balances of brain function. However, Dr Francks, the lead researcher said left-handed people should not be worried by the links between handedness and schizophrenia. He said: "There are many factors which make individuals more likely to develop schizophrenia and the vast majority of left-handers will never develop a problem."

The study which appeared in the journal Molecular Psychiatry says that The gene, LRRTM1, appears to play a key role in controlling which parts of the brain take control of specific functions, such as speech and emotion. As The brain is set up in an asymmetrical way, in right-handed people the left side of the brain usually controls speech and language, and the right side controls emotions and in left-handed people the opposite is often true, which change, according to the researchers is caused by the LRRTM 1 gene.

Dr. Francks is hopeful that this study's findings will help us understand the development of asymmetry in the brain.

"Asymmetry is a fundamental feature of the human brain that is disrupted in many psychiatric conditions." There is evidence to suggest there are some significant differences between left and right-handed people. Australian research published last year found left-handed people can think quicker when carrying out tasks such as playing computer games or playing sport.

And French researchers concluded that being left-handed could be an advantage in hand-to-hand combat. However, being left-handed has also been linked to a greater risk of some diseases, and to having an accident.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.