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These Fossils May Be the Earliest Evidence of Handedness in Animals
The New York Times • • science
Key Points:
- Researchers analyzed fossils of Spriggina, a small leech-like organism from South Australia, and found evidence that it consistently favored turning right, indicating early behavioral handedness.
- The study, published in Scientific Reports, suggests that handedness existed over half a billion years ago, long before the evolution of limbs.
- Handedness is a widespread trait in nature, observed in DNA structure, particle physics, animals, and plants, reflecting a deep evolutionary origin.
- Previous fossil evidence shows behavioral handedness in ancient species like Homo habilis and trilobites, supporting the idea that side preference evolved early in complex life.
