Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Handgrip Strength in Hani Ethnicity

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2013 Nov 9

PMID 24205044

Citations 3

Authors

Dapeng Zhao

Keli Yu

Xinghua Zhang

Lianbin Zheng

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: The ratio of the length of the second finger to the fourth finger (2D:4D) in humans is considered as a putative marker of prenatal exposure to testosterone, and has been progressively adopted as one useful tool to evaluate the effect of prenatal hormones in some traits such as physical ability. Handgrip strength is one authentic measure of physical ability and is generally used on the anthropological research within an evolutionary viewpoint.

Methods: Here we present the first evidence on 2D:4D and handgrip strength on adult participants of Hani ethnicity and explore the relationship between digit ratio (2D:4D) and handgrip strength. We examined 2D:4D and handgrip strength of 80 males and 60 females at Bubeng village, in the Yunnan province of China.

Results: The mean 2D:4D in females was higher than that in males for each hand. Females showed significantly higher 2D:4D than males in the right hand rather than in the left hand. Males displayed significantly higher handgrip strength than females for both hands. Handgrip strength decreased with age for both sexes. A significant negative correlation between 2D:4D and handgrip strength was found in the right hand of males.

Conclusion: The relationship between 2D:4D and handgrip strength may be attributed to evolutionary drive of sexual selection operating on fetal programming.

Citing Articles

Handgrip strength and 2D : 4D in women: homogeneous samples challenge the (apparent) gender paradox.

Back N, Schaefer K, Windhager S Proc Biol Sci. 2021; 288(1964):20212328.

PMID: 34875193 PMC: 8651413. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2328.

Association of Dopamine D1 and D3 Receptor Gene Polymorphisms with Essential Hypertension in 3 Ethnic Groups in China.

Yang H, Zhong L, Bai S, Dong Y, Wang Y, Li Q Med Sci Monit Basic Res. 2017; 23:234-239.

PMID: 28579604 PMC: 5476181. DOI: 10.12659/MSMBR.900432.

Digit Ratio (2D:4D): A Biomarker for Prenatal Sex Steroids and Adult Sex Steroids in Challenge Situations.

Manning J, Kilduff L, Cook C, Crewther B, Fink B Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2014; 5:9.

PMID: 24523714 PMC: 3906590. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2014.00009.

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