(NOW IN 3D!) Since animals (including humans) produce chiral molecules (proteins are left handed for example) then drugs have to be tailored in such a way as to account for this. A racemic mixture of a drug may have unwanted side effects due to the presence of both left and right handed enantiomers. The drug thalidomide was racemic and each enantiomer had different effects on pregnant women; the right handed drug alleviated morning sickness, the left handed drug caused birth defects.

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