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

Abstract

Morphogenetic traits are physical observable traits that can be inherited either in a single gene or multifactorial pattern. ABO blood group is a codominant inherited trait that has been associated with different anatomical and physiological variations. However, there are limited studies that have linked ABO blood groups with some morphogenetic traits.
 This study was conducted to ascertain the distribution of morphogenetic traits like hand clasping and tongue rolling among ABO blood groups in a University community in Eastern Nigeria.
 A total of 115 volunteers participated in the study. The blood groups of the participants were determined and the expression of the morphogenetic traits was gotten by physical observation. Greater proportion of the participants were males (55.65 %), students (61.74 %) and within ages 15−25 (58.26 %). There was a higher prevalence of blood group O (57.39 %), tongue non-rollers (53.04 %) and right hand clasping (74.78 %) among the participants. The participants with blood groups A and O recorded a higher distribution of tongue non-rollers while those with blood groups B and AB recorded an equal number of both tongue roller and non-rollers. The participants with blood groups A, B and O recorded a higher distribution of right hand clasping while those with blood group AB recorded a significant higher distribution of left hand clasping (P<0.05).
 In conclusion, morphogenetic pattern of tongue rolling could not be associated with ABO blood group, whereas that of left hand clasping was associated with blood group AB suggesting that individuals with blood group AB is likely to exhibit left hand clasping; forming basis for determination of hand clasping using ABO blood group in future advancement of genetics and forensic science

Aspects of Morphogenetic Traits Associated With Physiological Coefficients Related to Incidence of Obesity, Hypertension, and Diabetes Mellitus

“…This is a cross-sectional study; simple random technique [7] was used to select volunteered participants during a free medical outreach conducted by 200 level medical students of Gregory University Uturu (an institution in Eastern Nigeria). Total of 70 volunteered subjects participated in the study.…”

“…Height (m) was measured using a stadiometer, weight (kg) was measured with human weighing balance, and BMI was expressed in kg/m 2 and was used to classify subjects into: Underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m 2 ), normal (18.5-24.9 kg/m 2 ), overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 ), pre-obese (25-29.9 kg/m 2 ), obese class 1 (30-34.9 kg/m 2 ), obese class 2 (35-39.9 kg/m 2 ), and obese class 3 (BMI ≥40 kg/m 2 ) [11]. Morphogenetic traits such as ABO blood group, tongue rolling, hand clasping, and hitchhiker thumb were performed as described by [7,16]. BP (mmHg) was measured using digital sphygmomanometer; outcome from the measurement was used to classify the volunteers into hypotension (BP <90/60 mmHg), normal (BP <120/80 mmHg), pre-hypertension (BP: 120/80-139/89 mmHg), hypertension stage 1 (BP: 140/90-159/99 mmHg), and hypertension stage 2 (BP ≥160/100 mmHg) [12,17].…”

“…Examples of human morphogenetic traits include; height, weight, hand clasping, eye, and hair color. [7]. Several studies have associated various morphogenetic traits to other morphogenetic traits, different anatomical/physiological variations, and the vulnerability of an individual to certain pathophysiological conditions.…”

“…ABO blood group was associated with the left hand clasping, body weight was associated with obesity, relationship between ABO blood groups and susceptibility to malaria was also reported, etc. [7][8][9][10].…”

“…Physiological coefficients related to obesity include height, body weight, and weight circumference as obesity can be determined from body mass index (BMI) expressed as kg/m 2 [11]. Height and weight are morphogenetic traits that can be transferred from parents to offspring [7]. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are pathophysiological conditions related to alteration in homeostasis of blood pressure (BP) and blood sugar level resulting to its increase in the body [12,13].…”