Genetics of asymmetry in dermatologlyphic traits.

Differences between the right and left hand in ridge counts and pattern type counts were analyzed using data obtained from 711 families consisting of all parents and 2,466 children. Heritability estimates for each trait were derived from regressions of offspring on either parent or average value of the two parents, and from full-sib correlations. These estimates varied from 0.09 for bimanual difference in the number of arches to 0.24 in the number of ulnar triradii. The low expected value of heritability for bimanual difference in dermatoglyphic traits was demonstrated.