A study on digital dermatoglyphics among indigenous Assamese populations of Assam
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20252392Keywords:
Digital dermatoglyphics, Dermatoglyphic pattern indices, Indigenous Assamese populations, Assam, IndiaAbstract
Background: Dermatoglyphic patterns are among the most distinctive and reliable features of the human body. Their uniqueness plays a vital role in forensic investigations, as no two individuals have identical fingerprints. These patterns also reflect racial, ethnic, and gender differences and can assist in diagnosing certain congenital disorders.
Methods: The present study was conducted on 222 students from indigenous Assamese populations, aged 18–22 years, to examine the frequency distribution of fingerprint patterns, identify the most and least prevalent types, and assess inter- and intra-population variations. Fingerprint impressions of both hands were collected and classified using Henry’s classification system. Additionally, pattern intensity index, Dankmeijer’s index, and Furuhata’s index were calculated.
Results: The results showed that loops were the most common pattern in both males (58.89%) and females (62.8%). In males, whorls (24.63%) were the second most common, while in females, composites (20.88%) ranked second. Arches were the least common in both sexes—2.41% in males and 7.19% in females. Significant sex-based differences were observed in the distribution of whorls and composites. Among the indices, the pattern intensity index (10.76) and Furuhata’s index (41.82) were higher in males, while Dankmeijer’s index was higher in females (78.84).
Conclusions: The study identifies loops as the most common fingerprint pattern and arches as the least common.
Metrics
References
Nath S. Finger Print Identification. Gita Press, Delhi. 1984;1-15.
Palmar CH. Plantar epidermal ridge con-figuration (dermatoglyphics) in Europeans and Americans. Am J Phy Anthrop. 1926;179:741-802.
Dorjee B, Das S, Mondal N, Sen J. Dermatoglyphic variation among the Limboo of Sikkim, India. Homo. 2014;66(5):455-70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchb.2015.02.010
Aravind P, Rajesh JJ, Dakshinamoorthy K, Janarthanan R, Feula A. Role of dermatoglyphics in early detection of bronchial asthma among South Indian population. J Forensic Med Toxicol. 2022;39(1):82-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-4568.2022.00016.3
Schaumann B, Alter M. Dermatoglyphics in Medical Disorders. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. 1976;166-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-51620-7
Hodes ME, Cole J, Palmer CG, Reed T. Clinical experience with trisomies 18 and 13. J Med Genet. 1978;15(1):48-60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jmg.15.1.48
Reed T, Reichmann A, Palmer C. Dermatoglyphic differences between 45, X and other chromosomal abnormalities of Turner syndrome. Hum Genet. 1977;36(1):13-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390431
Fañanás L, Moral P, Bertranpetit J. Quantitative dermatoglyphics in schizophrenia: study of family history subgroups. Hum Biol. 1990;62(3):421-7.
Cummins H, Steggerda M. Finger prints in a Dutch family series. Am J Phys Anthropol. 1935;20:19-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330200106
Basu A, Namboodiri KK. The relationship between total ridge count and pattern intensity index of digital dermatoglyphics. Am J Phys Anthropol. 1971;34:165-73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330340203
Dankmeijer J. Some anthropological data on finger prints. Am J Phys Anthropol. 1938;23:377-88. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330230402
Furuhata T. The difference of the index of finger prints according to race. Japan Med World. 1927;7:162-4.
Nithin MD, Balaraj BM, Manjunatha B, Mestri SC. Study of fingerprint classification and their gender distribution among South Indian population. J Forensic Leg Med. 2009;16:460-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2009.07.001
Singh I, Garg RK. Finger dermatoglyphics: a study of the Rajputs of Himachal Pradesh. Anthropologist. 2004;6(2):155-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09720073.2004.11890845
Chattopadhyay PK, Sharma PD. Finger dermatoglyphics of the Rarhi Brahmins of Bengal. Am J Phys Anthropol. 1969;30:397-401. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330300309
Srivastava RP. A study of finger prints of the DanguriaTharu of Uttar Pradesh (India). Am J Phys Anthropol. 1963;21:69-76. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330210109
Banik SD, Pal P, Mukherjee DP. Finger dermatoglyphicvariations in Rengma Nagas of Nagaland India. Coll Antropol. 2009;33:31-5.
Biswas S. Finger and palmar dermatoglyphicstudy among the Dhimals of North Bengal, India. Anthropologist. 2011;13:235-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09720073.2011.11891202
Kapoor N, Badiya A. Digital dermatoglyphics: A study on Muslim population from India. Egypt J Forensic Sci. 2015;5:90-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejfs.2014.08.001
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
