The relationship between the direction of the whorl of hair on the top of the head and handedness supports the idea that
A) left-handed and right-handed people have different types of hair follicles.
B) using one hand or the other results in neurological changes that cause a whorl to go in a specific direction.
C) a single gene has a major influence on asymmetry throughout the body.
D) a single hormone has a major influence on asymmetry throughout the body.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The relationship between the direction of the whorl of hair on the top of the head and handedness supports the idea that a single gene has a major influence on asymmetry throughout the body. This is because the direction of the hair whorl is determined by genetic factors related to overall body asymmetry, which includes handedness. Studies have shown that left-handed people are more likely to have counterclockwise whorls, while right-handed people are more likely to have clockwise whorls, indicating a connection between the gene(s) controlling handedness and the gene(s) controlling hair whorl direction. This suggests that there is a genetic basis for both handedness and hair whorl direction that share a common regulatory mechanism.

The Relationship Between the Direction of the Whorl of Hair