A study on tongue rolling, tongue folding and cerumen type in a Nigeria population

Abstract

This study investigated Variation in cerumen type, tongue rolling and tongue folding abilities of the Esan people of Southern Nigeria. This cross-sectional survey investigated 400 volunteered adult subjects (176 males and 224 females) between the ages of 18 and 60 whose parents and grandparents were of Esan ethnicity. The tongue and ear wax type were observed and examined physically thus classifying subjects into rollers/none-rollers, folders/none-folders and dry or wet cerumen type. Results indicates that tongue rollers (72.9%) were more than non-rollers (27.3%), in the same vein, tongue folders (68.3%) were also more than non-folders (31.7%) in the studied population. A larger percentage of the population also had wet ear wax (65%) while (35%) had dry ear wax. The chisquared analysis of variance showed that there is a significant difference (P<0.05) between those who can roll their tongue and those who cannot, those that could fold their tongue and those who cannot as well as between those with wet ear wax and dry ear wax. This study therefore provides data on the distribution of tongue rollers, tongue folders as well as variability in cerumen type. This data can be of importance to the anthropologist and forensic investigators.Keywords: Variation, Genetics, Inheritance, tongue rolling, tongue folding, cerumen type

Tongue rolling and hand clasping among various ABO blood groups in a University community in Eastern Nigeria

“…The ability to roll the lateral edges of the tongue is said to be a dominant gene [2]. Result from (Table 2) shows higher prevalence of inability to roll the tongue (53.04 %).…”

“…This can either be in an autosomal or sex dominant or recessive pattern. It is now believed that some of such genetic qualities do not simply follow Mendelian rule but rather express interplay between genetic and environmental factors [2]. Morphogenetic traits are physical ob-servable traits inherited from parent to offspring [3].…”

“…Some also have the ability to fold their tongue into various shapes (tongue folders) while some cannot. Study has shown some tongue rollers and tongue non-rollers also being tongue folders [2]. A geneticist, Afred Sturtevant discovered that about 70 % of Europeans are tongue rollers while 30 % are tongue non-rollers [6].…”

Investigation of Bactericidal effect of Earwax onEscherichia coliandStaphylococcus aureusisolated from skin and stool samples of undergraduate students, Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

“…It protects the skin of human ear canal, assists in cleaning and also provides some protection against bacteria, fungi, insects, dust particles and water. Its antimicrobial activity is due to the presence of saturated fatty acids, lysozyme and slight acidity with the PH value of 6.1 (Abimbola, 2019).…”