Chiral object and achiral object The chiral object is the screw, which has a mirror image that cannot be superimposed on the original object. The achiral object is the nail, which has a mirror image identical to the original object. (more) mirror life hypothetical synthetic life-form Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/mirror-life Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: mirror-image life Written by Written by Laura Payne Laura Payne is a freelance writer whose work covers many topics. She is a former Wayne State University linguistics instructor. Laura Payne Fact-checked by Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Updated: Oct. 9, 2025 Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot mirror life, a hypothetical form of synthetic organisms designed to resemble bacteria but created with mirror images of the natural building blocks found in DNA, RNA, and proteins. Some scientists are concerned that if such life were created, it would be a deadly pathogen, because immune systems have not evolved to be able to fight it. The biomolecules in all natural living organisms have a handedness—being either right-handed or left-handed—a feature known as homochirality (from...

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