Gene For Left-Handedness Found

Again from the BBC (I do look at other sites) a story about how researchers think they've found the gene that determines whether you're left handed or not.

Handily, in true scare-mongering style, the second paragraph mentions that being left-handed can raise the likelihood developing psychotic mental illness such as schizophrenia. Not until the thirteenth paragraph do we get the quote "There are many factors which make individuals more likely to develop schizophrenia and the vast majority of left-handers will never develop a problem."

The article also mentions that being left-handed has also been linked to a greater risk of some diseases, and to having an accident. Well, the main reason for accidents is that pretty much everything is designed for right-handers. Ever tried using scissors that were designed for use in the opposite hand? Lethal.

Or, on a rather more common level, you go to the barrier to get on the tube, ticket in left hand, put it through the ticket slot and walk into the still closed barrier while the person to your left goes through a very open barrier that you've just opened for them.

Sadly the shop that used to sell left-handed stuff in London has closed, but the website sells everything they used to and more besides!