How come some people are left handed and some are right handed?

Question

And i think there are more right handed people than left as well. Why? Is it genetic? are some people BOTH handed?

Answer 1

No-one has come up with a definitive reason for WHY some people are left-handed, but about 13% of the population around the world are, and it is thought to be genetic - it definitely runs in families. Researchers have recently located a gene they believe "makes it possible to have a left-handed child " so if you have that gene, one or more of your children may be left-handed, whereas without it, you will only have right-handers - sorry! The good news is, that if you are left-handed yourself, you have that gene and will pass it on through the generations!

The way the brain works is incredibly complex, but this simplified explanation will give you some understanding of where our left-hand dominance comes from. The brain is "cross-wired" so that the left hemisphere controls the right handed side of the body and vice-versa and hand dominance is connected with brain dominance on the opposite side - which is why we say that only left-handers are in their right minds!

Answer 2

When a person is left-handed, all it means is that they can do certain things better with the left side of their body than with the right. You may have noticed that some people write with their left hand instead of their right, and that they hold their knife in their left hand, and other similar things. This is not 'wrong', and in fact attempts to force someone to become right-handed can often do more harm than good. But what causes left-handedness? Nobody can really say. It is not something with a single explanation. One theory is that the human body is not the same on both sides - that is, it is not symmertrical. One side dominates the other, and it is believed that the two halves of the brain control this, the left side of the brain controlling the right side of the body, the right side of the brain controlling the left side of the body. In most people, the right side of the body (the left side of the brain) dominates, but in left-handed people the opposite is the case. But nobody knows why this should be so, and in any case, not all scientists accept this theory.

To address your last question, YES. There are some people who are BOTH handed. They are called ambidextrous. Ambidexterity is the ability of being equally adept with each hand.

Answer 3

Yes, I am "both" handed. I switch off every other day. I used to have terrible problems with repetitive stress in my arms and wrists, now I change my dominate hand every other day. I can write, eat (even use chopsticks), use my mouse, etc. with either hand.

I believe that most people are born one hand dominate. As I understand it most people who are left hand dominate tend to be more artistic while right handers are more scientific.

Not too many years ago, it was considered "bad" to be left handed and people who started out left hand dominate were forced to be right handed (that's what happened to me and my brother).

Answer 4

My theory is as follows.

We are social animals and live in societies. It makes good evolutionary sense to have people with diverse skills living in your society.

Left handed people are better at 3D awareness tasks, thinking hollistically, have more intuition etc etc.

As cavemen left handers would have been the ones who climbed the trees to get the birds eggs for example. In todays society left handers become architects.

So we evolved to have a one in ten chance of being left handed. Left handers have a niche in society that is beneficial for them and for the right handers (who have other skills).

Does that make sense or does it sound like bull****?

Answer 5

Left handed people are faulty, (Like the Raggydolls).
Or it may be genetics, some people can use both hands/ or feet equally well (Ambidextrous)

Answer 6

Largely it's to do with what side of your brain is the dominant one! The left side of your brain controls your right hand, and the right side of your brain your left hand! So if the left hand side of your brain is dominant you will be right handed!

Answer 7

Left-handed people are just better. They're usually better looking, more capable and logical, and more likely to become famous. And rich.

Oh, did I mention that I'm left-handed?

:P

Answer 8

When the left side of the brain is dominant then the person will be right handed....if the right side of the brain is dominant then they will be left handed..........I am left handed

Answer 9

Everybody is born rite handed it just takes special people to overcome it and be left handed

Answer 10

Genetics, and some people are both handed or ambidextrous