Genetic Potential Can Be Stunted By Poverty

Think for a moment about your ancestors. Some of them might have lived their lives in utter poverty, especially if that ancestor was a child during The Great Depression. Other distant relatives might have been financially well taken care of. Why does this matter? It turns out that children who grow up in conditions of poverty may not reach their full genetic potential. The United States is a rich nation when compared with many of the other countries in the world. This does not mean that there are no poor people here. We have a large number of people who … Continue reading

Is Left-Handedness Hereditary?

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