[Kalyani Gupta]

Kalyani Gupta asked the Naked Scientists:

Why do we have lines on our palms? Is there a purpose for them?

What do you think?

[Chemistry4me]

Are the lines not just where the skin folds over one another. The skin on your palm is quite tough so they fold, creating lines. Whereas other areas of skin are softer so they don't cteate lines, Eg, there aren't distinct lines on the skin around the elbow joints. I don't know if I'm on the right track though...

[blakestyger]

Kalyani Gupta asked the Naked Scientists:

Why do we have lines on our palms? Is there a purpose for them?

What do you think?

Nothing in the natural world has a purpose. For instance it would be wrong to say that the purpose of the heart is to pump blood. It does, obviously, but it evolved to do so; pumping is its function. Similarly with palm lines, it's where the skin folds.

Organs having a purpose implies there is a design - which does not accord with evolutionary theory.