>>werrell <[log in to unmask]> writes:
Subject: people who can't curl their tongues

>>Ok this might be a really weird question but can people who can't curl
their tongues breastfeed?


Yes.  The ability to curl one's tongue has nothing to do with breastfeeding.

>>I know down syndrome babies can with difficulty
with their thick tongues.

Having Down Syndrome is not related at all to tongue curling ability.  They
are separate issues.  Babies with Down Syndrome do not, in fact, have thick
tongues.  They have normal tongues in a smaller-than-usual mouth -- a subtle
but important distinction.  Babies with Down Syndrome who have trouble
breastfeeding (by no means all have trouble) usually have trouble because of
their low muscle tone and general weakness.

Should we be
asking mom and dad if they can curl their tongues?  I am assuming this is a
recessive trait.

Tongue curling is a dominant trait.  If you have two copies of the tongue
curling gene, you can curl your tongue.  If you have one copy of the tongue
curling gene, you can curl your tongue.  Only if you have two copies of the
non-curling gene can you NOT roll your tongue.

Tongue-curling (we are talking here about the ability to curl up the left
and right sides of your tongue toward the center) is not related to any
feeding or speech issues.  It is just one of those many genetic differences
between people that seem to have no significance, like whether or not you
have hairs growing on the middle knuckles of your fingers, and whether or
not you have hitch=hiker's thumb (your thumb bends backwards or not).

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Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.                         email: [log in to unmask]
Anthropology Department                               phone: (409) 845-5256
Texas A&M University                                    fax: (409) 845-4070
College Station, TX  77843-4352
http://www.prairienet.org/laleche/dettwyler.html