From DAVID HAINES
In Leigh Dayton’s article on left- and right-handedness I read: ‘Nine
out of ten individuals are right-handed, and that can be traced to early
human evolution. . . You have to ask the question, what advantage would
this be?’ (Science, 21 July).
I suggest that in any cooperative behaviour, the predictability of the
actions of your colleagues is important to the success of the venture, so
increased cooperative behaviour in the human species would favour the selection
of uniformity of handedness in populations.
Imagine you are attempting to hold down a struggling antelope as your
brother or sister at your side prepares to deliver the final blow with a
spear. It might just make the difference between eating a good dinner and
suffering a fatal injury if you know instinctively from which side they
will lunge and, therefore, which way you should throw yourself at the critical
moment.
David Haines Teignmouth, Devon
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