Cuellar-Partida, GabrielTung, Joyce Y.Eriksson, NicholasAlbrecht, EvaAliev, FazilAndreassen, Ole A.Barroso, Ines2024-09-292024-09-2920212397-3374https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-020-00956-yhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14619/5496Handedness has been extensively studied because of its relationship with language and the over-representation of left-handers in some neurodevelopmental disorders. Using data from the UK Biobank, 23andMe and the International Handedness Consortium, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of handedness (N = 1,766,671). We found 41 loci associated (P < 5 x 10(-8)) with left-handedness and 7 associated with ambidexterity. Tissue-enrichment analysis implicated the CNS in the aetiology of handedness. Pathways including regulation of microtubules and brain morphology were also highlighted. We found suggestive positive genetic correlations between left-handedness and neuropsychiatric traits, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Furthermore, the genetic correlation between left-handedness and ambidexterity is low (r(G) = 0.26), which implies that these traits are largely influenced by different genetic mechanisms. Our findings suggest that handedness is highly polygenic and that the genetic variants that predispose to left-handedness may underlie part of the association with some psychiatric disorders. A genome-wide association study of 1.7 million individuals identified 41 genetic variants associated with left-handedness and 7 associated with ambidexterity. The genetic correlation between the traits was low, thereby implying different aetiologies.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessLanguage DominanceLinkage AnalysisMetaanalysisMicrotubuleAsymmetryAutismLateralizationSchizophreniaOriginsScreenArticle10.1038/s41562-020-00956-y2-s2.0-85091609696132989287Q15WOS:000573450500001Q1