The fascinating world of left-handedness

Summary

Gillette Cox, a Brisbane-based artist, overcomes childhood trauma from being punished for being left-handed to create stunning art with her non-dominant hand. The script delves into historical discrimination against left-handers and explores the genetic and environmental factors influencing handedness. Highlighting the work of Professor David Evans, it discusses the largest study on genetic factors of handedness, identifying genes associated with left-handedness and ambidexterity. The narrative also touches on the challenges left-handers face in a right-handed world, featuring Steve mcquirk's business catering to left-handed products and the adaptability of left-handers, exemplified by notable figures like astronauts and artists.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Gillette Cox, an artist in Brisbane Studio D, creates art using her left hand, which was discouraged in her childhood.
• 👧 As a child, she faced physical punishment and humiliation for using her left hand, reflecting a historical stigma against left-handedness.
• 🌏 Historically, left-handedness was considered bad luck or evil, and such treatment was common worldwide until about 50 years ago.
• 🎨 Art history reveals that Eve in the story of Adam and Eve is portrayed with two left hands, symbolizing the negative perception of left-handedness.
• 🧬 Genetic epidemiologist Professor David Evans explains that handedness is linked to brain function, with right-handers having more lateralized language centers.
• 🧠 Left-handed individuals are more likely to have less lateralization in brain function, with language abilities spread across both hemispheres.
• 🧬 In 2020, a study at the University of Queensland identified 41 genes associated with left-handedness and seven with ambidexterity, providing clues to the biology of handedness.
• 🧩 Handedness is predominantly influenced by environmental factors, unlike most traits which are a mix of genetic and environmental influences.
• 🛠 Steve mcquirk, a left-handed man, started an online business, Lefties Australia, after struggling with right-handed designed products.
• ✂️ Left-handed products, such as scissors, are designed to accommodate the different way left-handers push with the thumb and pull with fingers.
• 👨‍🚀 Notable left-handed individuals include astronauts and U.S. presidents, suggesting that left-handedness is associated with creativity and adaptability.

Q & A

What was the treatment of left-handed children like in the past according to the script?

In the past, left-handed children were often punished for using their left hand. The script mentions that the artist, Gillette Cox, was made to stand on her desk and had her legs beaten with a wooden ruler for using her left hand, which was considered a 'heinous hideous evil thing' during her primary school years.

Why was being left-handed historically considered bad luck or wicked?

Historically, left-handedness was considered bad luck or wicked due to its rarity, making up only about 10% of the population. This trait was often associated with negative connotations and superstitions.

What surprising fact about the portrayal of Eve in art was discovered by the script's narrator?

The narrator discovered that Eve, in historical portrayals, is depicted with two left hands, suggesting an extra level of evilness, as having one regular left hand was not considered evil enough.

What does Professor David Evans suggest about the correlation between handedness and brain function?

Professor David Evans suggests that handedness is correlated with brain function. Right-handed individuals are more likely to have lateralized brain function with language centers in the left hemisphere, while left-handed individuals may have less lateralization and language in both hemispheres.

What implications does understanding brain laterality have according to the script?

Understanding brain laterality has implications for developing treatments in cases of stroke, epilepsy, or trauma, where there is damage to a particular part of the brain.

What was the significance of the largest study on genetic factors determining handedness conducted in 2020?

The study was significant because it identified 41 genes associated with being a left-hander and seven genes associated with ambidextrousness, providing clues to the underlying biology of why people become left-handers.

What percentage of the handedness trait is determined by genetics and environment according to the script?

The script states that handedness is predominantly determined by environmental factors, unlike traits like height or diseases which are around 50% genetic and 50% environmental.

Why did Steve mcquirk start his online business 'lefties Australia'?

Steve mcquirk started 'lefties Australia' after a fruitless search for a left-handed can opener when his daughter struggled to open a can of dog food with a standard right-handed can opener.

What is the most popular product group sold by 'lefties Australia' according to the script?

The most popular product group sold by 'lefties Australia' is scissors, which are designed for left-handed individuals to cut effectively.

What challenges do left-handed individuals face in a predominantly right-handed world according to the script?

Left-handed individuals face challenges with everyday items that are not designed for left-handed use, such as turnstile card readers, microwave oven keypads, and various tools like chainsaws, circular saws, and power drills.

What notable figures are mentioned in the script as being left-handed and what message does this convey?

Notable left-handed figures mentioned include astronauts, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and several U.S. presidents. This conveys the message that left-handed individuals are adaptable and can excel in various fields, serving as role models for creativity and success.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 The Left-Handed Artist's Journey and the Science of Handedness

Gillette Cox, an artist from Brisbane Studio D, creates remarkable art using her left hand, a practice that was considered taboo during her childhood. She recalls the harsh punishment she faced for being left-handed, which included physical abuse and humiliation. The script delves into the historical stigma against left-handers, tracing it back to the Stone Age, and notes that left-handedness has often been associated with bad luck or evil. The narrative then shifts to the scientific perspective, discussing the correlation between handedness and brain function, as explained by genetic epidemiologist Professor David Evans. He highlights that right-handed individuals tend to have more lateralized brain functions, while left-handers may have language centers distributed across both hemispheres. The summary also mentions a significant study conducted in 2020 that identified genes associated with left-handedness and ambidexterity, emphasizing the environmental factors that predominantly determine handedness. The paragraph concludes with a personal account from Steve mcquirk, a left-handed entrepreneur, who faced difficulties with everyday tools designed for right-handers and subsequently started a business catering to left-handers.

05:02

👐 The Challenges and Triumphs of Being Left-Handed in a Right-Handed World

This paragraph discusses the everyday challenges faced by left-handed individuals in a world predominantly designed for right-handers. Steve mcquirk, the founder of lefties Australia, shares his daughter's struggle with a standard can opener, which led to the establishment of his business. The summary highlights the most popular product group, left-handed scissors, explaining how they function differently from right-handed ones. It also lists other everyday items that are not left-hand friendly, such as train station turnstiles, microwave oven keypads, and various power tools. The paragraph concludes with a note on the pride and adaptability of left-handers, mentioning famous left-handed individuals like astronauts and artists, and the wish of the narrator to show her former teachers the accomplishments she has achieved with her left hand.

Keywords

💡Handedness

Handedness refers to the preference for using one hand over the other, typically the right or left hand. In the video, handedness is central to the theme, exploring the historical stigma and challenges faced by left-handed individuals. The script mentions how left-handedness was once considered a negative trait and how it's predominantly influenced by environmental factors rather than genetics.

💡Stigma

Stigma in this context is the negative perception and treatment of left-handed individuals throughout history. The script describes how being left-handed was seen as evil or bad luck, leading to harsh punishments for children who used their left hand, such as being beaten with a ruler.

💡Genetic Factors

Genetic factors are elements in a person's DNA that influence their traits and characteristics. The video discusses a study that identified genes associated with being left-handed, suggesting that genetics play a role in determining handedness, although it's a small part of a larger environmental influence.

💡Laterality

Laterality is the preference of one side of the body over the other, especially in terms of brain function. The script explains that right-handed individuals tend to have more lateralized brain function, with language centers predominantly in the left hemisphere, while left-handed individuals may have less lateralization.

💡Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related conditions in populations. Professor David Evans, a genetic epidemiologist mentioned in the script, uses this approach to understand the genetic and environmental factors influencing handedness.

💡Brain Function

Brain function refers to the operations and activities of the brain, including cognitive processes and motor control. The video script relates brain function to handedness, noting that the preference for one hand can indicate differences in how the brain's hemispheres are used.

💡Trauma

Trauma, in the context of the video, refers to the emotional and physical harm experienced by left-handed children who were punished for their natural preference. The script recounts personal experiences of being beaten for using the left hand, which left lasting emotional scars.

💡Adaptability

Adaptability is the ability to adjust to new conditions or changes in the environment. The script highlights the adaptability of left-handed individuals, who have had to navigate a world designed predominantly for right-handed people, and have shown resilience and creativity in doing so.

💡Cultural Perception

Cultural perception is how a particular culture views and interprets certain traits or behaviors. The video discusses the historical cultural perception of left-handedness as a negative or evil trait, which has influenced societal attitudes and practices.

💡Left-Handed Products

Left-Handed Products are items specifically designed for use by left-handed individuals, such as scissors or can openers. The script introduces 'Lefties Australia,' a retailer that caters to the unique needs of left-handed people, highlighting the challenges they face in a right-handed world.

💡Inclusive Design

Inclusive design is the practice of creating products and environments that accommodate people of all abilities and preferences. The video points out the lack of inclusive design in everyday items, which can create difficulties for left-handed individuals, such as with turnstile cards, microwave ovens, and power tools.

Highlights

Gillette Cox creates art in Brisbane using her left hand, despite being punished for it as a child.

Being left-handed was considered evil and bad luck historically, with left-handed children often punished.

Eve in Adam and Eve is portrayed with two left hands in historical art, symbolizing evil.

Hand preference is linked to brain lateralization, with right-handers having more language function in the left hemisphere.

Left-handers tend to have less brain lateralization, with language centers in both hemispheres.

Understanding brain lateralization has implications for treating stroke, epilepsy, and brain trauma.

A 2020 study identified 41 genes linked to left-handedness and 7 genes linked to ambidexterity.

Genetics only play a small role in handedness, with environmental factors being the primary determinant.

Steve mcquirk founded Lefties Australia, a retailer for left-handed products, after struggling with a right-handed can opener.

Left-handed scissors are designed differently to allow the blades to cut properly when pushing with the thumb.

Many everyday items, like microwaves and power tools, are not designed to be left-hand friendly.

Left-handers are overrepresented among astronauts, artists, and U.S. presidents.

Left-handers are adaptable and able to work with whatever comes their way, making them valuable in various fields.

Gillette Cox wishes she could show her old teachers how successful she has become despite being left-handed.

Transcripts

every day in her Brisbane Studio D

Gillette Cox creates breathtaking works

of art by doing something she would

never have dared to do as a child using

her left hand when I was a wee girl in

Primary School it was apparently a

heinous hideous evil thing to be

left-handed so what they would do when I

was caught using my left hand to right

or the like I mean I'm five what was I

doing drawing things I don't know but I

would have to stand on top of my desk

and then they would beat the back of my

legs with a wooden ruler to punish me I

remember bleeding from from being hit so

hard and I remember the humiliation and

I was five so I super remember being

scared that I'd pee my pants while I was

standing on that desk being smacked it

was horrible it was truly traumatizingly

horrible

it's hard to believe today but until

about 50 years ago this sort of

treatment was common for left-handers

all over the world

as far back as the Stone Age lefties

have only made up about 10 of the

population which means throughout

history this trait has been considered

bad luck at best and just plain Wicked

at worst I research a lot about art I

did discover that Eve as in Adam and Eve

is historically portrayed as having two

left hands because having one regular

left hand didn't make the woman evil

enough that that was shocking to

discover that it turns out that you

can't tell whether someone's good or

evil by looking at which hand they favor

but genetic epidemiologist Professor

David Evans says there's a lot we can

learn from studying this trait whether

you're right or left-handed is

correlated with what's going on in the

brain so for example people who are

right-handers are much more likely to be

very lateralized in terms of their brain

function and have their language centers

in the left hemisphere whereas

individuals who are left-handed it's

more likely that they have less

lateralization and you have language in

in both hemispheres rather than just the

left if we've got a good understanding

of laterality in the brain then this has

implications for developing treatments

in the case of stroke epilepsy or trauma

where you've got damage to a particular

part of the brain in 2020 Professor

Evans and his colleagues at the

University of Queensland collaborated

with the qimr Berg offer Medical

Research Institute to conduct the

largest study to date into the genetic

factors that determine handedness we

found 41 genes which were associated

with being a left-hander and seven genes

that were associated with being

ambidextrous so the reason why that's

significant is that nobody knows what

causes left-handedness so if we can find

genes that are involved in somehow

determining whether someone is

Left-Handed or not that provides us with

Clues as to the underlying biology of

why people become left-handers but it

turns out genetics are only a tiny piece

of the puzzle handedness is a really

unusual trait in that it's mostly

determined by the environment so

normally when you look at traits like

Heights or various diseases normally

it's kind of around about 50 genetic and

50 environmental but handedness is

really unusual in that it's

predominantly due to environmental

factors just what those environmental

factors are remains unclear but as

Sydney based Lefty Steve mcquirk will

tell you there's no question we live in

a right-hander's world back when our

youngest daughter who's left-handed was

seven

she decided one night she wanted to feed

the dog and we went to open the can of

dog food and she struggled with the

right hand the standard can opener the

owner can opener we had and we ended up

having major tantrums and of course the

dog had to be fed by somebody else Steve

fruitless search for a left-handed can

opener inspired him to start up his

online business lefties Australia's only

retailer of left-handed products so the

most popular product group that we have

is scissors when we use a pair of

scissors we are pushing with the thumb

and pulling with the fingers and what

that does is it moves on the pivot to

cause the blades to actually rub against

each other and cut the piece of paper if

you're using the wrong scissors in those

hands then it causes the blades to splay

apart and they don't cut since starting

up in 2003 Steve's little family

business has grown to stock over 300

products including left-handed veggie

peelers garden tools and measuring jugs

for but he reckons most right-handers

would be surprised at just how many

other everyday items aren't left hand

friendly well where do you start the

turnstiles at the train station you know

when you put your opal card that's the

right hand the microwave oven the f plus

machine if you're swiping your card this

the swipe spot the slot is on the right

hand side of the keypad chainsaws and

circular saws The Whipper snipper and

the lawnmower the zipple on those power

drills all those sorts of things they're

all set just for the right-hander

despite the many little challenges Steve

couldn't be prouder to be part of this

exclusive Club after all he's in pretty

good company one out of four astronauts

was left-handed so you know double the

normal population we have you know

perfect role models for us of examples

of creativity and like you know Leonardo

da Vinci Michelangelo six of the last

eight U.S presidents were all

left-handed as a group we're adaptable

whether it be through necessity or

ability and that lends us to be able to

work with whatever comes our way I wish

I could get those old teachers who beat

me for being left-handed my sewing

teacher who would look at my work that

had

four dodgy right hand stitches from when

she was watching me and seven good

left-handed ones for when her vision was

elsewhere all of them I'd like to line

them all up and go right everybody

excuse me do you see what the hand does

now

[Music]