Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Kathleen Tarlow on 05/11/2010 09:30:04

Title: Do animals show handedness?
Post by: Kathleen Tarlow on 05/11/2010 09:30:04

Kathleen Tarlow  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hello Chris,

As always, love the show (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/). Here's my question:

My daughter is 16 months old, and she's just beginning to show a preference in "handedness". So this seems to be something that develops in the brain, an asymmetry. Do other animals show any similar asymmetry like this? Are other primates right- or left-handed? What is the reason for this asymmetry?

Thanks,
Kathleen Tarlow
Oregon

What do you think?

Title: Do animals show handedness?
Post by: JnA on 05/11/2010 14:59:00

Yes.. polar bears have been known to show handedness.. as with orang utans..


Incidentally, orang utans (and quite possibly other primates) also get 'human' diseases like diabetes.