Do we finally understand the mystery of life’s ‘handedness’?

A recent accidental discovery in a lab at the University of Oxford may have shed light on the mystery of why molecules in living cells have a specific "handedness." Many molecules have left or right-handed forms, known as chirality, and while chemical reactions typically produce an equal mix of the two forms, living organisms on Earth exhibit distinct patterns of chirality. The researchers found that certain cell membranes act as a sieve, selectively allowing specific chiral forms of molecules to pass through. This finding suggests that if such membranes existed early in the evolution of life, they could explain why living organisms use these particular forms. However, some scientists remain skeptical and propose alternative explanations for the origins of chirality. [Extracted from the article]