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Annals of Human Biology Volume 30, 2003 - Issue 5
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Research Article

Second to fourth digit ratio: ethnic differences and family size in English, Indian and South African populations

J. T. Manning School of Biological Sciences The University of Liverpool Liverpool L69 3BX UK
,
P. Henzi Department of Psychology University of Natal Durban South Africa
,
P. Venkatramana Department of Anthropology Sri Venkateswara University Tirupati India
,
S. Martin School of Biological Sciences The University of Liverpool Liverpool L69 3BX UK
&
D. Singh Department of Psychology University of Texas Austin Texas USA
Pages 579-588 | Published online: 09 Jul 2009

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Varvara Yu Bakholdina, Alla A. Movsesian & Marina A. Negasheva. (2018) Association between the digit ratio (2D:4D) and body fat distribution in Mordovian students. Annals of Human Biology 45:5, pages 414-418.
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Magdalena Klimek, Andrzej Galbarczyk, Ilona Nenko, Louis Calistro Alvarado & Grazyna Jasienska. (2014) Digit ratio (2D:4D) as an indicator of body size, testosterone concentration and number of children in human males. Annals of Human Biology 41:6, pages 518-523.
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Chi-Fu Jeffrey Yang, PeterB. Gray, Jianxin Zhang & HarrisonG. Pope$suffix/text()$suffix/text(). (2009) Second to fourth digit ratios, sex differences, and behavior in Chinese men and women. Social Neuroscience 4:1, pages 49-59.
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Articles from other publishers (83)

Allison L. Seeley, Mercedes Mora-Plazas, Henry Oliveros, Constanza Marín & Eduardo Villamor. (2023) Associations of the digit ratio with adolescent behavior problems are inconsistent with an intrauterine androgenic origin. Development and Psychopathology, pages 1-10.
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Burkhard C. Schipper. (2023) Sex hormones and choice under risk. Journal of Economic Psychology 96, pages 102607.
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Sanjay Kumar & Martin Voracek. (2022) Effects of caste, birth season, and family income on digit ratios. American Journal of Human Biology 35:5.
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Moses Banyeh, Nketia-Anim Yeboah, Lukeman Seidu & Alfred Faadenige Doglikuu. (2022) Sex estimation accuracies from variables of the index and ring fingers in a Ghanaian population: Absolute lengths versus length ratios. Forensic Science International: Reports 5, pages 100277.
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Linda H Lidborg, Catharine Penelope Cross & Lynda G Boothroyd. (2022) A meta-analysis of the association between male dimorphism and fitness outcomes in humans. eLife 11.
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Nora Bäck, Katrin Schaefer & Sonja Windhager. (2021) Handgrip strength and 2D : 4D in women: homogeneous samples challenge the (apparent) gender paradox. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 288:1964.
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Marcelo Vinhal Nepomuceno & Eric Stenstrom. (2021) Consumption on steroids: The effect of testosterone on preferences for conspicuous consumption and the moderating role of intrasexual competition. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making 34:3, pages 457-475.
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Moses Banyeh, Nafiu Amidu & Lawrence Quaye. (2021) Second to fourth (2D:4D) digit ratio and their relationships among a mother and child population in Ghana. Scientific Reports 11:1.
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Bernard Crespi. (2021) Variation among human populations in endometriosis and PCOS A test of the inverse comorbidity model. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health 9:1, pages 295-310.
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Marcelo V. Nepomuceno, Cristina M. Aguiar Pastore & Eric Stenstrom. (2019) Prenatal hormones (2D:4D), intrasexual competition, and materialism in women. Psychology & Marketing 38:2, pages 239-248.
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Leandro Lofeu, Renata Brandt & Tiana Kohlsdorf. (2020) Digit identity matters: origin and evolution of sexual dimorphism in the digit lengths of tropidurid lizards. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 131:1, pages 109-121.
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Jennifer Wernicke, Julia Tamara Zabel, Yingying Zhang, Benjamin Becker & Christian Montag. (2020) Association between tendencies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the 2D:4D digit ratio: a cross-cultural replication in Germany and China. Early Human Development 143, pages 104943.
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M. Butovskaya, V. Burkova, D. Karelin & V. Filatova. (2019) The association between 2D:4D ratio and aggression in children and adolescents: Cross-cultural and gender differences. Early Human Development 137, pages 104823.
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Lu Wu, Rongying Yao, Yifei Zhang, Yuan Wang, Ting Li, Manman Chen, Wenming Liu, Hui Han, Linda Bi & Lianguo Fu. (2019) The association between digit ratio (2D:4D) and overweight or obesity among Chinese children and adolescents: A cross-sectional study. Early Human Development 136, pages 14-20.
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Miroslav Králík, Adela Hupková, Tomáš Zeman, Martin Hložek, Lukáš Hlaváček, Marie Slováčková, Martin Čuta & Petra Urbanová. (2019) Family effects on the digit ratio (2D:4D): The role of the interbirth interval. American Journal of Human Biology, pages e23260.
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Yifei Zhang, Yanni Zhou, Ting Li, Zhiqiang Li, Lu Wu, Yanqiu Meng, Yuan Wang, Rongying Yao, Hui Han & Lianguo Fu. (2019) The association between digit ratio (2D:4D) and blood pressure among children and adolescents. Hypertension Research 42:6, pages 876-882.
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Rajarshi Roy, Rajib Kundu, Mallika Sengupta & Panchali Som. (2018) Association between digit length ratio (2D:4D) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)—A study among eastern Indian population. Journal of the Anatomical Society of India 67, pages S14-S19.
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Nicole M Warrington, Enisa Shevroja, Gibran Hemani, Pirro G Hysi, Yunxuan Jiang, Adam Auton, Cindy G Boer, Massimo Mangino, Carol A Wang, John P Kemp, George McMahon, Carolina Medina-Gomez, Martha Hickey, Katerina Trajanoska, Dieter Wolke, M Arfan Ikram, Grant W Montgomery, Janine F Felix, Margaret J Wright, David A Mackey, Vincent W Jaddoe, Nicholas G Martin, Joyce Y Tung, George Davey Smith, Craig E Pennell, Tim D Spector, Joyce van Meurs, Fernando Rivadeneira, Sarah E Medland & David M Evans. (2018) Genome-wide association study identifies nine novel loci for 2D:4D finger ratio, a putative retrospective biomarker of testosterone exposure in utero. Human Molecular Genetics 27:11, pages 2025-2038.
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Ting Li, Lu Wu, Yujie Wang, Rongying Yao, Yanqiu Meng, Yifei Zhang, Zhiqiang Li, Yanni Zhou, Hui Han & Lianguo Fu. (2018) The association between digit ratio (2D:4D) and the first spermatorrhea among Chinese boys. Early Human Development 118, pages 48-52.
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Michalina Marczak, Michał Misiak, Agnieszka Sorokowska & Piotr Sorokowski. (2018) No sex difference in digit ratios (2D:4D) in the traditional Yali of Papua and its meaning for the previous hypotheses on the inter-populational variability in 2D:4D. American Journal of Human Biology 30:2, pages e23078.
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Leandro Lofeu, Renata Brandt & Tiana Kohlsdorf. (2017) Phenotypic integration mediated by hormones: associations among digit ratios, body size and testosterone during tadpole development. BMC Evolutionary Biology 17:1.
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Liliana Alejandra Chicaiza-Becerra & Mario Garcia-Molina. (2017) Prenatal testosterone predicts financial risk taking: Evidence from Latin America. Personality and Individual Differences 116, pages 32-37.
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Lee Ellis. (2017) Race/ethnicity and criminal behavior: Neurohormonal influences. Journal of Criminal Justice 51, pages 34-58.
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Alexander V. Georgiev, Calen P. Ryan, Lee T. Gettler, Thomas W. McDade & Christopher W. Kuzawa. (2017) Second‐to‐fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is unrelated to measures of somatic reproductive effort among young men from Cebu, the Philippines. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 163:3, pages 437-445.
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Caixia Li, Manhong Jia, Yanling Ma, Hongbing Luo, Qi Li, Yumiao Wang, Zhenhui Li, Wenli Ding, Renzhong Zhang, Lijun Song, Lan Cao, Min Guo, Tao Wei & Lin Lu. (2016) The relationship between digit ratio and sexual orientation in a Chinese Yunnan Han population. Personality and Individual Differences 101, pages 26-29.
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Varvara Yu. Bakholdina, Alla A. Movsesian & Irina M. Sineva. (2016) Digit ratio (2D:4D): Is it possible to use it for sex determination in the study of human skeletal remains?. American Journal of Human Biology 28:4, pages 591-593.
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Marcelo Vinhal Nepomuceno, Gad Saad, Eric Stenstrom, Zack Mendenhall & Fabio Iglesias. (2015) Testosterone at your fingertips: Digit ratios (2D:4D and rel 2) as predictors of courtship‐related consumption intended to acquire and retain mates . Journal of Consumer Psychology 26:2, pages 231-244.
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Marcelo Vinhal Nepomuceno, Gad Saad, Eric Stenstrom, Zack Mendenhall & Fabio Iglesias. (2016) Testosterone & gift-giving: Mating confidence moderates the association between digit ratios (2D:4D and rel2) and erotic gift-giving. Personality and Individual Differences 91, pages 27-30.
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Coren L. Apicella, Victoria A. Tobolsky, Frank W. Marlowe & Kathleen W. Miller. (2016) Hadza hunter-gatherer men do not have more masculine digit ratios (2D:4D). American Journal of Physical Anthropology 159:2, pages 223-232.
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Takahiko Mitsui, Atsuko Araki, Chihiro Miyashita, Sachiko Ito, Tamiko Ikeno, Seiko Sasaki, Takeya Kitta, Kimihiko Moriya, Kazutoshi Cho, Keita Morioka, Reiko Kishi, Nobuo Shinohara, Masayuki Takeda & Katsuya Nonomura. (2016) The Relationship between the Second-to-Fourth Digit Ratio and Behavioral Sexual Dimorphism in School-Aged Children. PLOS ONE 11:1, pages e0146849.
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Rie Tamiya, Sun Youn Lee & Fumio Ohtake. 2016. Behavioral Economics of Preferences, Choices, and Happiness. Behavioral Economics of Preferences, Choices, and Happiness 617 635 .
Yasuhiro Masuya, Yuko Okamoto, Keisuke Inohara, Yukiko Matsumura, Toru Fujioka, Yuji Wada & Hirotaka Kosaka. (2015) Sex-different abnormalities in the right second to fourth digit ratio in Japanese individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Molecular Autism 6:1.
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Wei Xie, Mianwang He, Ruozhuo Liu, Zhao Dong, Jingdan Xie, Dan Wang & Shengyuan Yu. (2015) The second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D): a risk factor of migraine and Tension-type headache. The Journal of Headache and Pain 16:1.
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Arun Kumar Agnihotri, A. Aman Jowaheer & Adiilah K. Soodeen-Lalloo. (2015) Sexual dimorphism in finger length ratios and sex determination – A study in Indo-Mauritian population. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine 35, pages 45-50.
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Diego Aycinena, Rimvydas Baltaduonis & Lucas Rentschler. (2014) Risk Preferences and Prenatal Exposure to Sex Hormones for Ladinos. PLoS ONE 9:8, pages e103332.
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Kalliopy Valla & Demetrios J. Halazonetis. (2014) Correlation of 2D:4D digit ratio and craniofacial shape in prepubertal children. American Journal of Human Biology 26:3, pages 337-346.
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Mathangi Krishnakumar, Shweta Atheeshwar & Mathangi D. Chandrasekar. (2014) Myopia and Digit Ratio in Medical College Students. PLoS ONE 9:2, pages e89800.
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Marina L. Butovskaya, Vasiliy A. Vasilyev, Oleg E. Lazebny, Evgenija M. Suchodolskaya, Dmitri V. Shibalev, Alex M. Kulikov, Dmitri V. Karelin, Valentina N. Burkova, Audax Mabulla & Alexey P. Ryskov. (2013) Aggression and polymorphisms in AR, DAT1, DRD2 and COMT genes in Datoga pastoralists of Tanzania. Scientific Reports 3:1.
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Dapeng Zhao, Keli Yu, Xinghua Zhang & Lianbin Zheng. (2013) Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Handgrip Strength in Hani Ethnicity. PLoS ONE 8:10, pages e77958.
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William H. James. (2013) Studies of Human Sex Ratios at Birth May Lead to the Understanding of Several Forms of Pathology. Human Biology 85:5, pages 769-787.
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Marina Butovskaya, Julija Fedenok, Valentina Burkova & John Manning. (2013) Sex differences in 2D:4D and aggression in children and adolescents from five regions of Russia. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 152:1, pages 130-139.
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Hong Lu, Zheng-hao Huo, Yong-jie Liu, Zhi-yun Shi & Jun-li Zhao. (2012) Correlations between digit ratio and infertility in Chinese men. Early Human Development 88:11, pages 865-869.
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Dapeng Zhao, Baoguo Li, Keli Yu & Lianbin Zheng. (2012) Digit ratio (2D:4D) and handgrip strength in subjects of Han ethnicity: Impact of sex and age. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 149:2, pages 266-271.
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Matthew Pearson & Burkhard C. Schipper. (2011) The visible hand: finger ratio (2D:4D) and competitive bidding. Experimental Economics 15:3, pages 510-529.
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Marina L. Butovskaya, Vasiliy A. Vasilyev, Oleg E. Lazebny, Valentina N. Burkova, Alex M. Kulikov, Audax Mabulla, Dmitriy V. Shibalev & Alexey P. Ryskov. (2012) Aggression, Digit Ratio, and Variation in the Androgen Receptor, Serotonin Transporter, and Dopamine D4 Receptor Genes in African Foragers: The Hadza. Behavior Genetics 42:4, pages 647-662.
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Konstanze Meindl, Sonja Windhager, Bernard Wallner & Katrin Schaefer. (2012) Second-to-fourth digit ratio and facial shape in boys: the lower the digit ratio, the more robust the face. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 279:1737, pages 2457-2463.
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Kai Hiraishi, Shoko Sasaki, Chizuru Shikishima & Juko Ando. (2012) The Second to Fourth Digit Ratio (2D:4D) in a Japanese Twin Sample: Heritability, Prenatal Hormone Transfer, and Association with Sexual Orientation. Archives of Sexual Behavior 41:3, pages 711-724.
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Piotr Sorokowski, Agnieszka Sorokowska, Dariusz Danel, Mara L. Mberira & Leszek Pokrywka. (2011) The Second to Fourth Digit Ratio and Age at First Marriage in Semi-Nomadic People from Namibia. Archives of Sexual Behavior 41:3, pages 703-710.
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Huo Zhenghao, Lu Hong, Dang Jie & Francis L. Martin. 2012. Handbook of Anthropometry. Handbook of Anthropometry 853 865 .
J. Auger & F. Eustache. (2011) Second to fourth digit ratios, male genital development and reproductive health: a clinical study among fertile men and testis cancer patients. International Journal of Andrology 34:4pt2, pages e49-e58.
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Khaled E. Aboul-Hagag, Soheir A. Mohamed, Maha A. Hilal & Eman A. Mohamed. (2011) Determination of sex from hand dimensions and index/ring finger length ratio in Upper Egyptians. Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences 1:2, pages 80-86.
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Ellen Garbarino, Robert Slonim & Justin Sydnor. (2010) Digit ratios (2D:4D) as predictors of risky decision making for both sexes. Journal of Risk and Uncertainty 42:1, pages 1-26.
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Tanuj Kanchan & Kewal Krishan. (2011) Anthropometry of hand in sex determination of dismembered remains - A review of literature. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine 18:1, pages 14-17.
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S. Helle. (2010) Digit length ratio (2D:4D) and variation in key life-history traits and fitness in contemporary Finnish women. Behavioral Ecology 21:5, pages 1061-1066.
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Johannes Hönekopp & Steven Watson. (2010) Meta‐analysis of digit ratio 2D:4D shows greater sex difference in the right hand. American Journal of Human Biology 22:5, pages 619-630.
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Michael S. Bloom, Allison S. Houston, James L. Mills, Cynthia A. Molloy & Mary L. Hediger. (2010) Finger bone immaturity and 2D:4D ratio measurement error in the assessment of the hyperandrogenic hypothesis for the etiology of autism spectrum disorders. Physiology & Behavior 100:3, pages 221-224.
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MARTIN VORACEK, ULRIKE PUM & STEFAN G. DRESSLER. (2010) Investigating digit ratio (2D:4D) in a highly male-dominated occupation: The case of firefighters. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 51:2, pages 146-156.
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Emma Nelson & Susanne Shultz. (2009) Finger length ratios (2D:4D) in anthropoids implicate reduced prenatal androgens in social bonding. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 141:3, pages 395-405.
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Marina Butovskaya, Valentina Burkova & Audax Mabulla. (2010) Sex differences in 2D: 4D ratio, aggression and conflict resolution in African children and adolescents: a cross‐cultural study. Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research 2:1, pages 17-31.
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Martin Voracek & Lisa Mariella Loibl. (2016) Scientometric Analysis and Bibliography of Digit Ratio (2D:4D) Research, 1998–2008. Psychological Reports 104:3, pages 922-956.
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Martin Voracek. (2009) Why digit ratio (2D:4D) is inappropriate for sex determination in medicolegal investigations. Forensic Science International 185:1-3, pages e29-e30.
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Reginia H. Y. Yan, Jessica L. Malisch, Robert M. Hannon, Peter L. Hurd & Theodore Garland. (2008) Selective Breeding for a Behavioral Trait Changes Digit Ratio. PLoS ONE 3:9, pages e3216.
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Üner Tan. (2008) Ratio of Fourth to Second Fingertip Extensions in Relation to Serum Estradiol and Testosterone Levels in Men and Women. Perceptual and Motor Skills 107:1, pages 3-13.
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Martin Voracek. (2008) Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Wearing of Wedding Rings. Perceptual and Motor Skills 106:3, pages 883-890.
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Cagatay Barut, Üner Tan & Asli Dogan. (2008) Association of Height and Weight with Second to Fourth Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Sex Differences. Perceptual and Motor Skills 106:2, pages 627-632.
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ONER TAN. (2008) RATIO OF FOURTH TO SECOND FINGERTIP EXTENSIONS IN RELATION TO SERUM ESTRADIOL AND TESTOSTERONE LEVELS IN MEN AND WOMEN. Perceptual and Motor Skills 107:5, pages 3.
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Robert P. Burriss, Anthony C. Little & Emma C. Nelson. (2007) 2D:4D and Sexually Dimorphic Facial Characteristics. Archives of Sexual Behavior 36:3, pages 377-384.
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Edmund Keogh, Charlotte Mounce & Mark Brosnan. (2007) Can a sexually dimorphic index of prenatal hormonal exposure be used to examine cold pressor pain perception in men and women?. European Journal of Pain 11:2, pages 231-236.
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Stefan J. Troche, Nina Weber, Karina Hennigs, Carl-René Andresen & Thomas H. Rammsayer. (2007) The Relationship of Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Gender-Role Orientation in Four National Samples. Journal of Individual Differences 28:2, pages 78-87.
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Martin Voracek, John T. Manning & Stefan G. Dressler. (2006) Repeatability and interobserver error of digit ratio (2D:4D) measurements made by experts. American Journal of Human Biology 19:1, pages 142-146.
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J.C. Stevenson, P.M. Everson, D.C. Williams, G. Hipskind, M. Grimes & E.R. Mahoney. (2006) Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and digit ratios in a college sample. American Journal of Human Biology 19:1, pages 41-50.
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Matthew H McIntyre. (2006) The use of digit ratios as markers for perinatal androgen action. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 4:1.
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Bernhard Fink, Vanlal Thanzami, Hanna Seydel & John T. Manning. (2006) Digit ratio and hand-grip strength in German and Mizos men: Cross-cultural evidence for an organizing effect of prenatal testosterone on strength. American Journal of Human Biology 18:6, pages 776-782.
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Martin Voracek & Stefan G. Dressler. (2006) High (feminized) digit ratio (2D : 4D) in Danish men: a question of measurement method?. Human Reproduction 21:5, pages 1329-1331.
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Martin Voracek, John T. Manning & Ivo Ponocny. (2005) Digit Ratio (2D:4D) in Homosexual and Heterosexual Men from Austria. Archives of Sexual Behavior 34:3, pages 335-340.
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John T. Manning, Bernhard Fink, Nick Neave & Noreen Caswell. (2005) Photocopies Yield Lower Digit Ratios (2D:4D) Than Direct Finger Measurements. Archives of Sexual Behavior 34:3, pages 329-333.
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Celina C.C. Cohen-Bendahan, Cornelieke van de Beek & Sheri A. Berenbaum. (2005) Prenatal sex hormone effects on child and adult sex-typed behavior: methods and findings. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 29:2, pages 353-384.
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J.T. Manning, A. Stewart, P.E. Bundred & R.L. Trivers. (2004) Sex and ethnic differences in 2nd to 4th digit ratio of children. Early Human Development 80:2, pages 161-168.
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James R. Roney & Dario Maestripieri. (2004) Relative digit lengths predict men’s behavior and attractiveness during social interactions with women. Human Nature 15:3, pages 271-282.
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Burkhard C. Schipper. (2012) Sex Hormones and Choice under Risk. SSRN Electronic Journal.
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Matthew Pearson & Burkhard C. Schipper. (2011) The Visible Hand: Finger Ratio (2D:4D) and Competitive Bidding. SSRN Electronic Journal.
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