What Does Your Ring Finger Tell You About You?
- Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:00am by
Liz Klimas
- Print »
- Email »
Take a look at your hand. Is your ring finger shorter than your index finger? Little did you know, but this finger can tell more than just if you’re married or not.
Ring fingers of men are generally longer than their index fingers. The opposite is the case for women, where the index finger is longer than ring. National Geographic reports on a study released by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Florida:
Differences in finger length have been repeatedly linked to a range of human traits, from aggression to musical ability to sexual orientation. There are also connections to health problems such as autism, depression, heart attacks, and cancer.
“It’s difficult to look at an adult or a newborn child and determine what was happening during their embryonic development,” said study leader Zhengui Zheng.
“But the discovery that digit proportions reflect the prenatal hormonal environment helps us to explain all those correlational studies,” said Zheng, who works in the laboratory of study co-author Martin Cohn.
The difference in size for the ring finger and index finger, scientists studying mice have found, is due to estrogen and testosterone levels during prenatal development. To prove this, the researchers blocked the receptors in the embryonic mouse’s limb buds that would receive the hormone, then they played with hormone levels in momma mouse. Here’s what they found:
Male mice that lacked testosterone receptors in the womb were born with shorter, typically feminine digit proportions, or had index digits longer than their ring digits. Male mice without estrogen receptors had longer ring digits.
Female mice that lacked an estrogen receptor were born with longer digits, and those that did not have testosterone had shorter, superfeminine digits.
. . .
In the ring digit, testosterone stimulates cell division, building up cartilage and bone to make the digit longer. Estrogen, on the other hand, slows down cell division, leading to a shorter digit.
The results of this study mean that the ring finger could be used by doctors as a tool for figuring out causes of disease, malformities and some behavioral traits. It gives an accurate representation of some of the hormones the person was exposed to in the womb.
If you’re a man, and your index finger is longer than your ring finger. It’s not a bad thing. You could have just gotten an extra dose of estrogen during development.
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 591 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 417 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 383 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 376 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 417 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 383 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know 100 Comments- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 417 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (137)
Sunnyr
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 3:14amLMBO!!! Thanks, I needed that!
Report Post »patriot308
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 3:08amNo. What it means is that is as “screwed” as your likely to ever get. Sorry.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 2:34amI really laughed out loud on that one.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 11:10amIt’s funny when the Blaze takes down an original post & leaves all of the replies . . .
Report Post »drago
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:50pmHuh?
Report Post »eramthgin
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 2:25amThis isn’t new the data has been around for twenty years.
Report Post »mtorres20
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 2:16amMaybe you have article about the lumps on our heads next time.
Report Post »taxedout
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 2:11amHow much of our tax money was used to fund this study?
Report Post »ThoughtfulConservative
Posted on September 11, 2011 at 9:56amRight…!
Report Post »One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 2:07amAnd if they’re the same length?
Report Post »GrumpyCat
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 6:50amSame length must mean we are super intelligent. :-)
Report Post »ThoughtfulConservative
Posted on September 11, 2011 at 9:58amsuper-intelligence, most assuredly
Report Post »islandlady
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:50amErrie Blue sounds like someone at the Huffo doesn’t He?
Report Post »Zcat
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:45amUgh OK….
Report Post »watchdog1
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:45amI guessing these scientist didn’t have anything worthwhile to study that day…..all the treadmills must have had shrimps on them already….LOL I agree with letting Obama know he’s number one though, I do that often, he doesn’t care though, he isn’t even real, he is a bobble head, when he gives a speech, his head goes back and forth like he is watching a tennis match. LOL
Report Post »Ron_WA
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:42amWish I’d known this before. I thought I’d been careful; I did the rent to own thing for 4 years. l then decided to buy & go all in but in the very day I hit 20 years of marriage & she was legally entitled to half of my Army pension I received a divorce notice. Bottom line: one cannot be careful enough.
Report Post »islandlady
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:55amNow I know why marriage scares me. Men use terms like rent to own. They objectify women. Just know not all women want your money. You attract what you are…….
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:40amWhat does the size of men’s feet day about a man?
Report Post »Witness1974
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 3:34amThey have big shoes?
Report Post »kalayaan
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:35amHuwaaahhh!!!….my ring fingers are longer than my index fingers…am I a mutant?….huwaaahhh!!!!! Hu-hu-hu-hu-hu….Obama, I need my Obamacare…I want this fix for free!!!
Report Post »IowaWoman
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 11:06amI too have longer ring fingers then index fingers. I am a female with very small hands and feet. What the heck does that mean by their study?
Report Post »The Bagginator
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:32amFinger length only matters in prostate exams. Use the shorter one, which ever it is, please!
Report Post »vanhelsing2010
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:50amMoon River! Nice one, Bag
Report Post »cptsaveaho
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:07amsounds like a bunch of men with short ring fingers commenting.
Report Post »conservativewoman
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:57amIt’s bogus. My ring fingers are longer than my index finger and I am always told I am a girly girl.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:56ami dont really care what my ring finger says , but i wish someone would translate what my middle finger is telling obama
Report Post »Harvickfan29
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:19amYou keep telling him he’s number one like me too huh.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:47amMy ring finger? When I look at it, I see there is no ring…which means I did not go through a ceremony, share my name…and wind up just renting a woman for a few years before she bailed on me with half of what I’ve earned in life.
WINNING!
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:03amLol!
Report Post »RA0725
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:13amI rented.
Report Post »Ron_WA
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:33amCongrats for you sir! I unfortunately bought the window dressing then paid all the hidden costs.
Report Post »jarasan
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 8:59pmI leased and decided not to buy.
Report Post »Elena2010
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:22amInteresting, but wake me when the information actually has a pragmatic use.
Report Post »Cherynn
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:35amI have known about this for years, its not the first time that this has been studied and identified. It is nice another group confirmed the results though. My ring finger is shorter than my index finger and I am transgendered, go figure. Just part of the real scientific evidence as to why I exsist and people say its a “lifestyle choice”. There is a genetic predisposition for it but no one here wants to listen to the science behind our condition.
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:50am@ Cherynn
My ring finger is longer than my index finger, yet I never once wanted to be a man.
Report Post »Cherynn
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:56am@ Diane TX, Lucky you, I wish my life could’ve been as easy.
Report Post »Servant Of YHVH
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 4:25amAMEN Diane in tx
Report Post »IowaWoman
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 11:15amCherynn, the fact that my ring finger is longer then my index did not result into me desiring to be a man disproves your anecdotal evidence. It does seem to prove that hormone amounts are not the only thing that determiners sexual orientation.
Report Post »BelievinginAmerica
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:34pmMy ring finger is way longer than my index finger and I’ve NEVER felt the least bit “tomboy”and I was an only girl! I think the scientists better get back to the drawing board on this one.
Report Post »Cherynn
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:22pmI also have XXY chromosones,,,,so my doctor has always told me. A little more unfortunate science.
Report Post »Cherynn
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:25pmAs far as siblings go, I have 5 sisters.
Report Post »Gypsy123
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:19amHow did they determine the mouses musical abilities?
Report Post »rpercifield
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:34amHaven’t you watched the Monty Python skit of the musical mice struck with a mallet?
Report Post »Daytripper
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:10amYes, it was “The Bells of St. Mary” and it was a scream!
Report Post »RA0725
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:16amGovernment furnished (confiscated) Gibson guitars.
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 2:57amlol, excellent question.
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:15amI’d like to know what kind of rings the mice wear most often.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 2:36amYes, I was amazed to learn that mice even wear rings.
Report Post »blue_sky
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:14amSoon Beck’s audience will punish him again.
He runs the blaze on the cheap, so people would be better served to use Drudge Report as a news container and Yahoo or other forum for chatting. The articles theBlaze selects make the latter a third-rate outlet (as a copy-and-paste/insert outlet, the selection process is what matters).
From now on, I will use it only as a forum to check on my old friends, neo-cons and RINOs, about their state of mind. I check socialists’ mindset at HuffPost as well.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:29amHuh? If you were to ever leave your parents basement you might understand that not everything is life v. death. Not everything in life is political. And you might also learn that you do not understand “Beck’s fans” at all.
On second thought…. Maybe you should stay right where you are. It would be better and certainly safer for you. You see the world as such a scary place I would hate to think about you being out in it all by your lonesome.
Report Post »El Diablo Heff
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:57amMaybe u could find something to do other than criticize and try to turn people away. Get a life.
Report Post »blue_sky
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 1:32amAs a private entity – the Blaze is for profit, making money on ads based on number of readers.
Therefore, we, as consumers of his product, have every right to choose and pick what suits each of us best.
I am just warning some readers that the cheese has got too much common mildew on it. Sure, some fans would protest saying it is fermentation of the fungus “Mucor Miehei” instead.
Report Post »johnsell
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 2:16amNo one is forcing you to read The Blaze, you still have that choice………..and your First Amendment Rights…….good luck wherever you go……..
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 10:43amUh…what?
Report Post »Get out more.
82dAirborne
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:11amIs your what longer than your which??????????
Report Post »comstox
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:10amNow I‘m gonna walk around lookin’ at everyone’s ring finger…. Any close-ups of Obama’s hand???
Report Post »tee hee hee
Glen
Le Sellers
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 11:06amLook here: http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/photos/lefthand.asp
O‘bama’s ring finger is longer, but, then, so‘s Michelle’s.
Report Post »just-saying
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 6:45pmLe Sellers‘ linked photo clearly shows that Michelle’s ring finger is longer (masculine), but less clear about Obummer’s fingers (they look the same). Here is another photo link that tends to show that Obummer’s index finger and ring finger are the same lengths: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/gallery_img_full/image/image_file/_mg_6073.jpg.
Report Post ».
Exrepublisheep
Posted on September 9, 2011 at 12:09amUhhhh, thanx?
Report Post »