Jamie Ward|Julia Simner
Is Synaesthesia an X-Linked Dominant Trait with Lethality in Males?
University College London|University of Edinburgh
previous research inheritance patterns synaesthesia eg experiencing colours graphemes studied concluded synaesthesia likely outcome single gene passed x chromosome dominant fashion addition reported female male ratio synaesthetes high 6 1 families synaesthetes contain female male members raises possibility gene may associated lethality males study replicate extend previous research investigating female male ratio inheritance patterns large sample synaesthetic families n 85 able verify authenticity grapheme colour associates least one proband family using internal consistency results show female male bias broadly consistent xlinked dominant mode inheritance however evidence male lethality eg synaesthetes likely give birth sons daughters moreover female male ratio synaesthetes within families 2 1 considerably lower previous estimates speculate men may reluctant disclose synaesthesia women indeed female male ratio based selfreferral 37 1 finally discuss genotype may give rise phenotype terms changes synaptogenesis plasticity extending childhood subsequently shaped environment