ASSOCIATION BETWEEN TONGUE-ROLLING PHENOTYPES AND SUBJECTS OF STUDY OF UNDERGRADUATES

The distribution of phenotypes in the tongue-rolling polymorphism in two samples of university undergraduates, totalling 1066 individuals, shows no difference between the sexes but large differences between groups drawn from different faculties and particularly between the life sciences and the arts. There are also indications of a difference in distribution between arts students living in halls of residence and those living elsewhere. The genetics of tongue-rolling is not yet critically established but, on the assumption that most of the phenotypic variation observed has a genetic basis, the data suggest that the loci governing this character may also contribute to variation in personality characteristics which influence choice of subject of study. © 1979, North American Conference of British Studies. All rights reserved.