Researchers explain right-handed coiling in snake embryos

An international research team led by Canadian scientists has identified why snake embryos develop in a spiral pattern. According to a study published in the journal Current Biology, snake embryos coil into a right-handed spiral as their bodies grow while being tethered by the gut.

This coiling mechanism allows snakes to hatch with the longest bodies of any vertebrate animals. Dr. Tetsuto Miyashita of the Canadian Museum of Nature compared the phenomenon to adjusting the length of a strap, where the longer, buckling side of the loop twists.

The research, which involved analyzing images of more than 900 embryos from 39 different species, was initiated during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. Lead author Alexandra Weber, a graduate student at the University of British Columbia, noted that understanding these biological spirals provides insight into other natural forms, such as snail shells and looping intestines.