Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

The gene that explains why some snails are ‘lefties’

CRISPR helps to pinpoint DNA involved in establishing an embryo’s body plan.
Wild-type dextral snail (right) and a CRISPR-created snail showing sinistral coiling (left).

The shells of pond snails normally spiral in a clockwise direction (right). But knocking out a gene called Lsdia1 creates snails whose shells spiral anticlockwise (left). Credit: Hiromi Takahashi/Kuroda Lab

Most snails boast a shell that spirals out from the centre in a clockwise direction. But a few ‘lefty’ snails have shells that coil the opposite way, and now scientists know why.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Nature 569, 459 (2019)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-01515-w

References

Subjects

Latest on:

Nature Careers

Jobs

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing

Search

Advanced search

Quick links