Why Are Some People Right-Handed and Some Left-Handed?

Right or left—what’s your dominant hand? Do you write with your right hand? Throw a ball with your left? Or perhaps you are part of the 1% in the world who is ambidextrous (am-buh-DEK-struss), and you can use both hands equally well.

Studies show that around 90% of people are righties (right-handed), while only about 10% are lefties (left-handed). Even fewer are ambidextrous.

When scientists first started studying this trait, scientists thought a single gene (a unit of DNA that determines your traits) gives us our right- or left-handedness. But now scientists believe that over 41 genes are responsible for us being righties or lefties!

No matter what hand you use, God created you wonderfully unique!

Handy Facts:

• Babies choose a hand before they’re even born. Babies in their mother’s womb will usually suck one thumb or the other. Scientists believe the hand they choose determines whether the baby will be right- or left-handed when it is born.
• There are more left-handed boys than girls.
• August 13 is International Left-Handers Day in the US.

Try It!

Try writing your name with your nondominant hand. Was it easy or difficult? Now write it with your dominant hand. Which one can you read better?

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