Finger length tied to enthusiasm for exercise

Among the most meaningful research undertakings ever.

"Finger length may help differentiate the couch potatoes from the exercise junkies, if new animal research is any indication.

A number of human studies have linked finger length ratio -- specifically, the length of the index finger in relation to the ring finger -- to certain behaviors and traits, including aggression, athletic ability and academic skills.

Generally speaking, men tend to have a shorter index finger relative to the ring finger, whereas the two tend to be more equal in length in women. Studies have the linked the 'male' pattern -- whether it's in men or women -- to higher aggression levels and greater athletic prowess, for example, whereas the 'female' pattern has been associated with sharper verbal skills.

In this latest study, published in the journal PloS One, co-author Dr. Peter L. Hurd and colleagues investigated this relationship in 1000 white mice. They found that selective breeding to enhance the trait of increased physical activity resulted in mice with a higher digit ratio. Although behavior was clearly associated with digit ratio, the findings were the opposite of those observed in humans.

Specifically, the scientists found that mice with a lower -- more male-like -- digit ratio tended to be lazier than their counterparts with more-feminine digits. That is, the latter group voluntarily took to their running wheels more often than the group with relatively short 'index fingers' -- in mice, the second digit on the paw."

I hope that public funds were used for this important undertaking.

Not.