A study has found new clues into why some people become left-handed and others become right-handed. Researchers have found that the trait, shared by about 10 per cent of people, could have something to do with our genes. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, identified rare variants (变体) of a gene involved in controlling the shape of cells and found them to be 2.7 times more common in left-handed people.
一项研究为解释为什么有些人是左撇子而有些人是右撇子找到了新的线索。研究人员发现，大约10%的人拥有这种特征，这可能与我们的基因有关。发表在《自然-通讯》杂志上的这项研究发现，一种控制细胞形状的基因出现了罕见的变异，在左撇子中这种变异的几率是左撇子的2.7倍。
While the genetic (基因的) variants were found in only a tiny amount of left-handed people, about 0.1 per cent, the researchers said the study showed the gene, called TUBB4B, could lead to someone using either the left or right side of their brains for learning language. Those who mostly use the left side of the brain when learning language tend to write with their right hand, while those who mostly use the right side of their brain become left-handed.
虽然这种基因变异只在一小部分左撇子中发现，约为0.1%，但研究人员表示，研究表明，这种名为TUBB4B的基因可能会导致人们使用左脑或右脑来学习语言。那些在学习语言时主要使用左脑的人倾向于用右手写字，而那些主要使用右脑的人则成为左撇子。
The study looked at the genetic data of more than 350,000 middle-aged or older adults from Britain. About 11 per cent were left-handed.
这项研究调查了来自英国的35万多名中年或老年人的基因数据。大约11%的人是左撇子。
The study could throw some light on the role of genes leading to right or left handedness, one of the lead authors, Clyde Francks said. But despite the genetic link found in the study, for most people, whether or not they became left-handed could purely be down to chance, he added.
该研究的主要作者之一克莱德·弗兰克斯说，这项研究可能会对导致左撇子或右撇子的基因所起的作用提供一些启示。但他补充说，尽管研究中发现了遗传联系，但对大多数人来说，他们是否成为左撇子完全取决于运气。
Over the centuries, many cultures have looked down upon left-handedness and tried to force them to become right-handed. In English, the word “right” also means “correct” or “proper.” The word “sinister” came from a Latin word meaning “on the left side.” Even today, the Italian word for “left” is “sinistra”. And a “left-handed compliment” means an insult covered up as praise.
几个世纪以来，许多文化都看不起左撇子，并试图强迫他们变成右撇子。在英语中，“right”这个词也有“正确”或“适当”的意思。“sinister”这个词来自拉丁语，意思是“在左边”。即使在今天，意大利语中表示“左派”的词仍然是“sinistra”。“左手恭维”指的是用赞美掩盖的侮辱。
The number of left-handed people varies across the world. There have been found to be fewer left-handed people in Africa, Asia and the Middle East compared to Europe and North America, Francks said. He said in many countries, naturally left-handed kids are still made to use their right hand to write and draw.
世界各地左撇子的数量各不相同。弗兰克斯说，与欧洲和北美相比，非洲，亚洲和中东的左撇子人数较少。他说，在许多国家，惯用左手的孩子仍然被要求用右手写字和画画。
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