Buzz
If you're left-handed, it means using your left hand for tasks like writing, brushing your teeth, or catching and throwing a ball comes more naturally to you. Only about 10% of the population—one in ten—are left-handed. If you're part of this group, you're in a rare and special league!
Scientists believe that handedness, or our preferred hand, is partly influenced by our genes. Genes are tiny parts of our cells that contain the special instructions called DNA, which determine who we are. We inherit our genes from our parents. These genes help decide things like our eye color, hair type, height, and much more. Whether you're left-handed or right-handed could be determined by your genes as well.
The exact cause is still unclear. Gene mutations (myoo-TAY-shuns), which are changes or errors in our DNA, could play a role in one specific set of genes. Another possibility is that, before birth, while we're still in the womb, hormones—body chemicals that aid in our growth—might make changes to our developing brains that influence whether we end up left-handed or right-handed. As you can see, there's still much we need to understand!
If you'd like to learn more about being left-handed, head over to Wonderopolis.
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