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Research Article
Digit ratio (2D:4D) and handgrip strength in subjects of Han ethnicity: Impact of sex and age
Article first published online: 13 AUG 2012
DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22130
Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Zhao, D., Li, B., Yu, K. and Zheng, L. (2012), Digit ratio (2D:4D) and handgrip strength in subjects of Han ethnicity: Impact of sex and age. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 149: 266–271. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.22130
Publication History
- Issue published online: 14 SEP 2012
- Article first published online: 13 AUG 2012
- Manuscript Accepted: 17 JUL 2012
- Manuscript Received: 11 APR 2012
Funded by
- Talent Introduction Fund of Tianjin Normal University. Grant Number: 5RL115
- Natural Science Foundation of China. Grant Numbers: 30830062, 30970444
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- 2D:4D;
- handgrip strength;
- Han ethnicity;
- sexual dimorphism
Abstract
The ratio of the length of the second finger to the fourth finger (2D:4D) is considered to be a putative proxy of prenatal exposure to testosterone, and has been increasingly used as a promising tool to evaluate the impact of prenatal androgenization in humans in such traits as physical performance. In this study, for the first time, we present 2D:4D data on adult participants of Han ethnicity. We consider the sexual dimorphism of 2D:4D and handgrip strength, and also report the relationship between 2D:4D and handgrip strength of males and females. The sample consisted of 54 males and 55 females recruited from a remote village in the Qinling Mountains, China. We found sexual dimorphism of both 2D:4D and handgrip strength, i.e., males had lower 2D:4D and right-left 2D:4D than females and greater handgrip strength than females. There was a sex-specific correlation between 2D:4D and handgrip strength, i.e., 2D:4D in the right hand was negatively correlated with handgrip strength in males but not in females. This relationship may be driven by sexual selection operating on fetal programming. Am J Phys Anthropol 149:266–271, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.