Not directly mollusk related, but planktonic foraminiferal "handedness" may
be completely genetic as the different "forms" are now being assigned to
different species.  See Kucera, M., and Kennett, J.P., 2000, Biochronology
and evolutionary implications of late Neogene California margin planktonic
foraminiferal events:  Marine Micropaleontology, v. 40, p. 67-81.

Best,

Chuck

Charles L Powell, II
Western Earth Surface Processes Team, MS 975
U. S. Geological Survey
345 Middlefield Rd.
Menlo Park, CA  94025
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(650) 329-4985



                      Andrew Grebneff
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                      Sent by: Conchologists List        Subject:  Re: fake shells... the Cebu Shell Daktari strikes!
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                      01/05/05 03:58 AM
                      Please respond to
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>  However, mollusks are relatively unusual in having many kinds that
>are normally distinctly asymmetric.  Many forminifera have
>snail-like coiled shells; these can be sinstral or dextral, too.

Foram handedness is temperature-controlled, with no genetic
component, and is unrelated to gastropod coiling. Indeed, the
organisms (currently in kingdom Protists, so they are not animals or
"creatures") themselves are basically "amorphous" blobs of protoplasm
& organelles. I wonder how they manage to secrete such regular and
beautiful shells?

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