The other day while I was at work, I had an interesting conversation with one of my co-workers. I passed by him as he was writing out a check to pay for a delivery, and he remarked that the check looked as if a kindergartener had written it. He went on to explain that the business check register is designed for use by right-handed people and since he is left-handed, he has trouble writing neatly on the checks. This random moment from my daily life got me thinking about left-handedness. Handedness is thought to be hereditary, although the exact mechanism … Continue reading →

Researchers have developed a pre-conception blood test that will help identify if either of the parents carry a recessive trait for a heritable disease. Once that information is known, it will be much easier to figure out how big a risk it would be for that couple to pass on a disease that runs in their family onto their child. The couple can then make an informed decision about whether or not they should have children. There are several genetic disorders that can be passed down from one generation to the next. If you have one of these diseases, then … Continue reading →