Diversity of topological palmar patterns in Iranian populations

The bilateral palmar prints of 3,158 females and males from 13 Iranian populations of diverse origins were analyzed to see how well topological palmar pattern frequencies reflect population distances. The results showed bimanual variation among most of the populations studied. Sex variation showed significant differences among all of the populations studied. Distance analysis and constructed dendrograms showed separation between the populations studied. These distances were frequently in agreement with the known ethnohistoric background of the populations studied. The male data gave better results. It appears that topological palmar patterns are a better indicator of population distance than topological finger patterns.     

Comparative analysis of dermatoglyphic traits in Hungarian and Gypsy populations

We examined dermatoglyphic prints of children in 11 Hungarian and 5 Gypsy population samples (collected from 1,998 children). We compared Hungarian and Gypsy populations based on 22 finger and 24 palmar traits. In univariate comparisons the two ethnic groups differed significantly in half of the studied variables (9 finger and 14 palmar traits). We used several types of multivariate analyses of the studied traits to separate the population samples. Homogeneity analysis and discriminant analysis proved to be the most appropriate method to distinguish the populations, whereas a principal components analysis was less adequate. Multivariate analyses were conducted separately for both finger and palmar traits. Although the differences between the populations were more pronounced for palmar traits, in our study Hungarian and Gypsy populations showed the best separation when finger and palmar traits were combined for analysis, except in the principal components analysis. As expected, the Hungarian and Gypsy populations separated definitely in most statistical analyses; the main reason for this is the different origins of the two ethnic groups. The existence of the difference also shows that admixture between Hungarians and Gypsies has been small despite their living beside one another for several centuries.     

Relationships of epidermal ridge patterns with body measurements and their possible evolutionary significance

It is commonly believed that in humans epidermal ridge patterns are in regression relative to nonhuman primates, and they play no role in adaptive processes. In contrast with this we have found relationships between anthropometric and dermatoglyphic measurements in a sample of 61 normal males. Anthropometric variables included limb, trunk, head, and face measures. Dermatoglyphic variables included finger ridge counts and pattern intensities and ridge breadth in the palmar interdigital area II. The strongest relationship is between the type and size of pattern on the thumb and the breadth of ridges, and wrist width, which accounts for nearly 30% of the total variance in these traits. These findings identify previously unknown sources of variation in dermatoglyphic patterns and indicate that the dermatoglyphic-anthropometric relationships might have resulted from selection pressures in evolution of modern man.     

Quantitative digital and palmar dermatoglyphics among Sardinian linguistic groups

Discriminant analyses of 23 digital and 15 palmar quantitative dermatoglyphic variables of 1364 Sardinians, 689 males and 675 females, were performed to identify biological relationships among five Sardinian linguistic groups of both sexes. By various subsets of dermatoglyphic variables (23 and 20 digital, 15 and 14 palmar, 4 summary traits) MANOVA revealed high intergroup heterogeneity among the groups of both sexes and within each sex. In the latter case the males are an exception when 15 and 14 (MLI removed) palmar variables are used. Standard discriminant analysis of the 23 digital variables, i.e. the radial and ulnar ridge counts on each of the 10 fingers plus total finger ridge count (TFRC), absolute finger ridge count (AFRC) and pattern intensity (PI), resulted in imperfect separation of males and females and an unclear picture of the biological relationships among the groups. In contrast, standard discriminant analysis of 20 digital variables (TFRC, AFRC and PI were removed from the analysis) resulted in separation of the sexes and a pattern of relationships among the populations consistent with their ethno-historical backgrounds. Standard discriminant analysis of 15 palmar dermatoglyphic variables failed to provide separation of the sexes and produced a pattern of relationships in disagreement with both the linguistic and ethno-historical backgrounds, even removing MLI (Main Line Index). Standard discriminant analysis of 4 summary dermatoglyphic variables (TFRC, AFRC, PI and MLI) yielded imperfect separation of males and females and an unclear pattern of relationships. By stepwise discriminant analysis with p < or = 0.01 as F-to-enter and p < or = 0.05 as F-to-remove, only 4 of the 38 digital and palmar variables were in the model (URC R5, RRC L5, RRC R5, URC R4). The pattern of inter-population biological relationships was conceptually similar to the one produced by the 20 digital variables. It showed a clear separation of the Gallurian group (both males and females), which speaks an Italian dialect. The properly Sardinian linguistic groups (Campidanian and Logudorian), the Sassarian group (which speaks an Italian dialect) and the Alghero group (which speaks Catalan) were close to one another. This picture agrees with the ethno-historical background rather than with the linguistic one.     

Qualitative finger and palmar dermatoglyphics: sexual dimorphism in the Chuvashian population of Russia

Qualitative finger and palmar dermatoglyphics of 547 individuals (293 males, 254 females) belonging to the Chuvashian population of Russia were studied to determine sexual dimorphism. The pattern types are not uniformly distributed on 10 fingers. Sex difference is homogeneous in all fingers whereas palmar patterns reflect the better sex variations for three palmar configurational areas (II, III, and IV). This is perhaps due to embryological development, having a relatively longer growth period compared with fingers (Cummins 1929). The present results of the Chuvashian population are not similar to the results of the five Indian populations of our previous study (Karmakar et al. 2002), perhaps due to a major ethnic difference.     

Dermatoglyphic and anthropometric relationships within the I?upiat (Eskimo) hand

On the basis of earlier findings with Easter Islanders suggesting a positive correlation between dermatoglyphic variables and hand anthropometric measurements, the present study was designed to determine if such a relationship could be generalized to another population, namely, I?upiat (Eskimo). Since some dermatoglyphic and anthropometric variables were available for both sides of the body, the extension of this study to explore the question of asymmetry was also possible. The I?upiat sample numbered 142 male and 176 female adult inhabitants of five Alaskan North Slope communities. The major findings of this study included, for males, significant negative correlations between left arm length and digital ridge counts and positive relationships between the palmar variable of axial index and hand length on both hands. For females, the hand breadth/length index was negatively related to most of the digital variables. Very little definitive information regarding the relationship of the asymmetry variables between the two types of measures was ascertained.     

蒙古国喀尔喀部蒙古族4项群体指趾遗传学特征研究

在内蒙古民族大学调查了160例(男66例,女94例)来自蒙古国的喀尔喀蒙古族留学生的拇指类型、环食指长、指甲形状、足趾长4项群体指趾遗传学特征。研究结果:1)直型拇指率为44.38%,环指长率78.13%,指甲形状长型率58.75%、方型率6.88%、扁型率34.38%,足趾类型拇趾长率35.00%;2)指甲形状出现率性别间差异具统计学意义,两两特征间均未表现出明显相关关系;3)与我国10个蒙古族族群相比,多数差异具有统计学意义。     

Qualitative dermatoglyphic affinities between the migrant groups of fishermen of Puri Coast, India

Finger and palm prints of 677 subjects (395 males and 282 females) were analyzed for 11 qualitative dermatoglyphic variables to study the relationship between the three migrant groups of fishermen of Puri. Sanghvi's X2-distance gives configuration confirmatory to caste affiliations, quite clearly in males, but to a lesser degree in females. A comparison with distance configurations obtained for quantitative finger/palm variables and for anthropometric/genetic markers suggests that the qualitative dermatoglyphic traits stand out as useful markers in more convincingly portraying the affinities at the level of sub-castes.     

Sexual dimorphism in the Chuvashian population of Russia in two types of dermatoglyphic traits: principal component analysis

With the aim of determining sexual dimorphism in the component structures among the Chuvashian population of Russia, finger and palmar dermatoglyphics of 547 individuals (293 males, 254 females) were analyzed. The sex differences in two categories of dermatoglyphic traits (22 quantitative traits and 38 asymmetry and diversity traits) are reflected differently and contradictory with other ethnic groups. However, a common feature of the factor 1 "digital pattern size factor" (finger ridge counts from the first category of traits) indicate its degree of universality when compared with other populations, which suggests that the variability of finger ridge counts is determined by the same genes that control the pattern types. The factors "intra-individual finger diversity factor", and "bi-lateral asymmetry factor" extracted from the second category of dermatoglyphic traits are also similar in both sexes. However, these components are hardly described in the literature. The nature of variation of these components (from two categories of dermatoglyphic traits) appears with a good similarity between sexes, which suggests their common biological validity of the underlying component structures of the finger and palmar dermatoglyphic characters.     

Hand locomotor functions, body structure, and epidermal ridge patterns: preliminary study

The purpose of this study was to determine whether any relationships exist between hand locomotor functions and dermatoglyphic characteristics and body structure. The pilot sample consisted of 71 adult normal individuals (30 males and 41 females). The locomotor function tests included a power grip and two precision grips; dermatoglyphic features were represented by finger and palmar pattern intensities and ridge counts, and body structure by 35 head, face, trunk, and limb anthropometric measurements. Univariate and multivariate correlation analyses reveal that on average half of the variance in the locomotor hand-function tests can be accounted for by a set of body and/or dermatoglyphic variables in males; this contribution is appreciably lower in females. Body longitudinal measurements and some facial measures, such as jaw length, were found to be the main correlates of either a power grip or a simple thumb-index squeeze, especially in males; head and face measurements and the size and intensity of patterns on fingers 1 and 2 were the main correlates of more complex precision tests involving complicated manipulation of objects using the thumb and index finger. These preliminary results identify some previously unknown sources of variation in dermatoglyphic patterns and contribute to a better understanding of the evolutionary aspects of the relationships between specific functional and morphologic traits in humans.     

Dermatoglyphic analysis in borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia--results of a Croatian study

Dermatoglyphic features of 52 male patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) were compared with those of 200 male controls (control group-CG) and 195 males with schizophrenia (SCH). Quantitative analysis showed statistically significant differences between BPD-CG and between BPD-SCH, mainly regarding the palmar traits, but also the 5th, the 4th and the 1st finger of the right hand as well as the 5th and the 4th finger of the left hand between BPD and SCH patients. The canonical discriminant analysis permitted correct classification with 69.84% probability between the BPD and CG and with 76.11% probability between the BPD and the SCH group. Qualitative finger and palmar traits analysis showed differences between the BPD and SCH groups on the 3rd finger of the left hand, total frequency for all fingers and in the III interdigital space. Significant differences between the BPD and CG were found on the 3rd finger of the left hand. Our results show that the dermatoglyphic features of BPD differ from those of schizophrenia and from those of control subjects. The possible significance of these findings is discussed.     

Inter-sex and intra-sex differences in quantitative digital dermatoglyphics of Sardinian-speaking groups

In this study, we analysed inter-sex differences within two linguistic groups from the Sardinian linguistic area and intra-sex differences between the two groups by means of 41 quantitative digital dermatoglyphic variables: 20 digital dermatoglyphic traits (radial and ulnar ridge counts on each of the 10 fingers), 15 digital dermatoglyphic directional asymmetry variables, total finger ridge count, bilateral summed radial and ulnar finger ridge counts, an index of asymmetry between homologous fingers, and two indices of intra-individual diversity of finger ridge counts. The comparisons between males and females within the same linguistic groups and between the males of the two groups and the females of the two groups were carried out with the Mann-Whitney test at a prefixed level of alpha = 0.05, using the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. The results indicate a strong similarity of the two linguistic groups in the inter-sex differences, whereas there are no significant differences between them for either males or females. The similar pattern of sexual dimorphism and the homogeneity of the males and females of the two groups suggest a common genetic matrix of these Sardinian-speaking groups.     

A dermatoglyphic study of the Kavalan aboriginal population of Taiwan

By the 1970s, a number of dermatoglyphic studies of Taiwan aborigines (Gaoshan nationality) had been published, however in each only a few dermatoglyphic variables were addressed. Since that time, little new research has been conducted. In this study, we collected and analyzed the dermatoglyphs of 100 individuals of Kavalan, a Taiwan aboriginal population, and we reported a wide range of dermatoglyphic variables including total finger ridge count (TFRC), a-b total ridge count (a-b RC), atd angle and axial triradius percent distance (tPD), and frequencies of fingerprint pattern, palmar thenar pattern, palmar interdigital pattern, palmar hypothenar pattern, and simian line. This study is the first comprehensive dermatoglyphic research of any Taiwan aboriginal population.     

A comparison of dermatoglyphic methodologies in population studies

Use of dermatoglyphics in population studies has been marked by a great deal of methodological variation among investigators. We compare various dermatoglyphic approaches using data derived from four groups in the Kumaon region of India. Dermatoglyphic data included ridge-counts and other quantitative variables, and the classification systems of Cummins and Midlo and Penrose and Loesch. Results were evaluated against anthropometric and serological relationships. No clearly superior approach emerges, although it is generally true that palmar variables exhibit more intergroup heterogeneity than digital variables and produce more reasonable results than the other approaches. The conventional method of treating ridge-counts, that of choosing the larger of the two counts, was the most unsatisfactory of the quantitative approaches, leading to the recommendation that both radial and ulnar counts be retained. We conclude that environmental variation may contribute substantially to intergroup variation.     

Quantitative dermatoglyphics in males and females of five Sardinian linguistic groups

Discriminant analysis of 23 digital and 15 palmar quantitative dermatoglyphic variables of 1364 Sardinians, 689 males and 675 females, were performed to identify biological relationships among five Sardinian linguistic groups of both sexes. By ANOVA 17 of the 23 digital variables and 4 of the 15 palmar variables were significantly different among males and females of the Sardinian linguistic groups. By MANOVA the results indicate high intergroup heterogeneity also within each sex. By stepwise discriminant analysis with p≤0.01 as F-to-enter and p≤0.05 as F-to-remove, only 4 of the 38 digital and palmar variables were in the model (URC R5, RRC L5, RRC R5, URC R4). The pattern of interpopulation biological relationships shows a clearly distinct position of the Gallurian group (both males and females) which speaks an Italian dialect. The properly Sardinian linguistic groups (Campidanian and Logudorian), the Sassarian group (which speaks and Italian dialect) and the Alghero group (which speaks Catalan) were close to one another. This pattern agrees more with the ethno-historical background than with the linguistic one.     

Finger dermatoglyphics of the Tibetans

Finger prints of 156 Tibetan males and 150 females have been analyzed. Whorls are more abundant in Tibetan males (60.24%) than in females (48.67%). The index of pattern intensity shows a higher value in males (15.95) than the females (14.65). The bimanual differences (both in males and females) are not statistically significant for the occurrence of pattern on the digits of the right and left hands. However, the difference between the sexes for the occurrence of patterns on the finger balls, are statistically significant. Ridge counting was done for each finger. On all fingers, Tibetan males have higher ridge-counts than females. The possible tendency for the right hands to possess higher ridge-counts cannot be demonstrated statistically. Tibetans show greater affinity with the Southern Mongoloids in the frequency distributions of pattern types on the finger balls. However, a more detailed dermatoglyphic study of all the Mongoloid populations in South East Asia, Central Asia and Far East would yield information of great value in disclosing the palmar pattern distributions among the Mongoloids.     

A dermatoglyphic study of the Kavalan aboriginal population of Taiwan

By the 1970s, a number of dermatoglyphic studies of Taiwan aborigines (Gaoshan nationality) had been published, however in each only a few dermatoglyphic variables were addressed. Since that time, little new research has been conducted. In this study, we collected and analyzed the dermatoglyphs of 100 individuals of Kavalan, a Taiwan aboriginal population, and we reported a wide range of dermatoglyphic variables including total finger ridge count (TFRC), a-b total ridge count (a-b RC), atd angle and axial triradius percent distance (tPD), and frequencies of fingerprint pattern, palmar thenar pattern, palmar interdigital pattern, palmar hypothenar pattern, and simian line. This study is the first comprehensive dermatoglyphic research of any Taiwan aboriginal population.     

Quantitative dermatoglyphic asymmetry: a comparative study between schizophrenic patients and control groups of West Bengal, India

Quantitative Fluctuating (FA) and Directional asymmetry (DA) of dermatoglyphics on digito-palmar complex were analyzed in a group of 111 patients (males: 61, females: 50) with schizophrenia (SZ), and compared to an ethnically matched phenotypically healthy control (males: 60, females: 60) through MANOVA, ANOVA and canonical Discriminant analyses. With few exceptions, asymmetries are higher among patients, and this is more prominent in FA than DA. Statistically significant differences were observed between patient and control groups, especially in males. In both sexes, FA of combined dermatoglyphic traits (e.g. total finger ridge count, total palmar pattern ridge count) are found to be a strong discriminator between the two groups with a correct classification of over 83% probability.     

Factors influencing back strength and the changes due to age of the oraon agricultural labourers of jalpaiguri district, west bengal

Muscle strength is a major component of successful performance in almost every activity of daily living and it is critical to health and well-being. Anthropometric, blood pressure and strength measurements were taken from Oraon agricultural labourers of Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal. The data were analyzed to find out the differences between high and low back strength groups of both sexes in different traits of the parameters mentioned above. Secondly, identifying the peak age of muscle strength in both sex and the declining ages. Thirdly, the influencing factors which, affect the back strength. The results show that high back strength groups have higher mean values of most of the anthropometric traits compared to low back strength groups and the differences are significant in case of males, but females show significant differences in few traits. Blood pressures are relatively low in high back strength groups compared to low back strength groups in both sexes. The peak age for higher back strength seems to be within the age of 24 years for males and 20 years for females. The predictive variables for males were found to be grip strength and subscapular skinfold thickness, but females show grip strength, BMI, biceps girth, bicondylar diameter of humerus. The differences in influencing factors between males and females have been sorted out from sociocultural practice of the population.     

Dermatoglyphic variation and weight and length at birth

Relationships between dermatoglyphic variables, including finger ridge counts and finger, palmar, and plantar pattern intensities, and weight and length at birth, were tested in a sample of 184 boys and 202 girls from Warsaw schools. No convincing evidence for such relationships has been obtained from the results of correlations and one-way analysis of variance, although there are indications that some palmar traits may be related to length at birth in females. The data agree with the common belief that birth weight and birth length are mainly determined by influences operating in later stages of pregnancy, that is, after the 20th gestational week.