Chirality: Why Molecular Handedness Matters

Chiral molecules come in left and right mirror images that no rotation can superimpose, like left and right hands. Amino acids in life are almost exclusively left handed, and sugars right handed, a mystery called homochirality. Receptors in the body are chiral too, so drug enantiomers can differ in potency or danger. Regulators now demand single enantiomer medicine where it matters..

.