
The Secret History of Left-Handedness: Genes, Spinal Cords, and Culture
Handedness begins in the spinal cord before brain lateralization, with tubulin gene variants shaping early asymmetry; left-handedness is partly genetic but not dictated by a single gene, and evolution likely favored right-handedness for efficiency and safety, though rare left-handers may have combat advantages. Cultural norms influence how left-handedness is perceived and taught, as seen in Ghana and historical contexts, yet the brain and hands remain plastic enough to retrain. The full origin mix—biology, evolution, and culture—remains unresolved.







