"You can conceive of life where homochirality is not so widespread," said Sandra Pizzarello, an Arizona State University biochemist who was not involved in the study.
The research materials place secondary importance on the basis of symbolic studies applied during compiling test methods on the sporting ability of children.
Their underlying reason for disputing this theory is that, in their studies of human evolution, they have encountered other primates, man's closest, hairiest relatives, who have longer fourth fingers.
Other scientists have written books to explain their fields to non-scientists, but have necessarily had to omit the mathematics, although it provides the foundation of their theories.
The policy follows similar efforts from other journals, after widespread concern that basic mistakes in data analysis are contributing to the irreproducibility of many published research findings.