"Uncovering the Genetic Link Between Cell Shape and Left-Handedness"

A new study sheds light on a genetic component of left-handedness, identifying rare variants of the TUBB4B gene that are 2.7 times more common in left-handed people, suggesting a role in brain asymmetry development. The gene controls a protein integrated into cells' microtubules, providing insight into the brain's normal asymmetries. The findings, based on genetic data from over 350,000 adults, may have relevance in psychiatry, as left-handedness is associated with conditions like schizophrenia and autism.