Start the Week Genes and hands: mapping character and health
Nov 24, 2025
Join historian Alison Bashford, zoologist Matthew Cobb, and geneticist Charlotte Houldcroft as they delve into the fascinating intersections of palmistry, genetics, and health. Bashford unveils the surprising relationship between palmistry and science, while Cobb shares insights on Francis Crick's innovative methods and his contributions to our understanding of DNA. Houldcroft explores how ancient DNA helps trace viral evolution and informs modern health strategies. Together, they highlight the beauty of interdisciplinary dialogue in decoding our identities.
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Gorilla Palm Print Sparks a Mystery
- Alison Bashford found a gorilla palm print from 1937 in the Wellcome Library and traced why a medically trained analyst took it.
- The print revealed early 20th-century interest in comparing human and primate palm creases for anatomy and psychology.
Hands Read Inner Life Not Just Fate
- Palmistry historically targeted interior qualities like soul, character, and later personality rather than only future-telling.
- Over centuries the hand became a site for diagnosing inner traits across medical and philosophical traditions.
Cairo: The West End Celebrity Palmist
- The flamboyant palmist Cairo claimed to learn palmistry from Brahmins in North India and read many famous figures in London.
- He counted clients like Gladstone, Oscar Wilde and the Shah of Persia among his patrons in the late 19th century.
