Finger ridge-count asymmetry and diversity in Andean Indians and interpopulation comparisons

A separate analysis of ulnar and radial finger ridge-counts, obtained from 115 Aymara Indians (55 males and 60 females) of northern Chile, was performed. From these variables, directional asymmetry, fluctuating asymmetry, indices of bilateral asymmetry (√A²), and intraindividual diversity (s/√5) were calculated for each sex. The results show that most bimanual differences for the ridge-counts are not statistically significant in the Aymara, except for radial counts in female first and second fingers (right hand means are larger), while most ulnar-radial differences are highly significant in both sexes (radial values exceed ulnar ones). Most sex differences do not reach statistical significance, although males have more ridge-counts, lower directional asymmetry, somewhat lower fluctuating asymmetry, and lower indices of asymmetry and diversity than females. As fluctuating asymmetry is not larger in males, the dermatoglyphic findings do not indicate support for the hypothesis that males are less canalized than females. In accordance with the findings of other authors, interpopulation comparisons in the indices of asymmetry and diversity show ethnic differences. Both indices tend to be low in samples of African ancestry, high in samples of European origin, and intermediate in the Aymara, while Indian groups are characterized by high asymmetry and low diversity values. Moreover, the data reveal a geographical trend in that asymmetry and diversity values tend to decrease from the northern to the southern hemisphere in populations of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, thus indicating greater ridge-count variability and heterogeneity among fingers in northern populations. It is assumed that this gradient primarily reflects different degrees of miscegenation and heterozygosity. Am J Phys Anthropol 105:377–393, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

太行山猕猴掌面花纹嵴数不对称性研究

为了解太行山猕猴掌面花纹嵴数的方向性不对称和波动性不对称的特征和性差,对26例(雌18例,雄8例)肤纹完整清晰的太行山猕猴的掌面花纹嵴数进行计数,用SPSS 13.0统计软件进行T-检验和相关分析.结果表明:在方向性小对称有关变量中存在性别差异,变量之间存在弱的负相关,波动性不对称量不存在性差,变量之间的相关系数有不同程度的性差.     

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.     

Dermatoglyphic variation among Finno-Ugric speaking populations: methodological alternatives.

Utilization of dermatoglyphics for population studies is apparently increasing, but methods vary widely among investigators. We investigate how different types of dermatoglyphic data can affect estimates of biological distance among Finno-Ugric speaking populations. Dermatoglyphic distances were calculated using the following categories of traits: 1) Finger ridge-counts (radial and ulnar count for each digit), 2) finger ridge-counts (largest count for each digit), 3) finger pattern types, 4) palm ridge-counts, 5) palm patterns, and 6) main-line terminations. In addition, we compare our distances with those of Heet, which rely heavily on summary characters. Distances are evaluated by comparing them to each other and to language and geographic distances. There is considerable variation in the pattern of relationships resulting from the different variable sets. Finger variables, whether ridge-counts or pattern classifications, agree well with each other. Palm patterns, main-lines, and finger variables show moderate agreement with each other, while palm ridge-counts agree poorly with all variable sets except main-lines. Heet's distances agree poorly with all other dermatoglyphic distances. Finger patterns and main-lines are most closely related to language distances, after controlling for geography, while correlations with geography generally disappear after controlling for language. Heet's distances have weak associations with language and geography. Finger variables and palm main-lines yield results which agree best with historical relationships among Finno-Ugric populations. Our results make it very clear that utilization of dermatoglyphics in population studies requires careful consideration of methods, and that summary measures of quantitative or qualitative data should be used with caution.     

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.     

Finger ridge-count variation among various Subsaharan African groups

This paper addresses the question of the extent to which finger ridge-count data are useful features with which to study population variation in Subsaharan Africa. Each subject was represented by a vector of 20 ridge-counts, a radial and an ulnar count for each digit. Such data were available from 11 African groups, nine of which were indigenous Africans, and two, the South African Colored and South African Indians, contained a portion of non-African ancestory. The ridge-counts were first transformed to principal component scores and these were subjected to multivariate analysis of variance and distance analysis to elucidate intergroup variation. The primary findings were that ridgecounts provide a good reflection of variation on at least two levels, that of African versus non-African, and variation among Africans. Also, the principal components that reveal variation at these two levels are very different. We conclude that ridge-counts can only be useful in population studies if full account is taken of their multicomponent nature.     

Sex differences in fingerprint ridge density in the Mataco-Mataguayo population

Ridge density (RD), the number of digital ridges per unit area, varies according to sex, age, and population origin. The main objective of this study was to determine the extent of sexual dimorphism in RD and to set the age at which it appears, in an Amerindian sample from the Mataco-Mataguayo population. The sample studied for this research consisted of 99 males and 110 females, between 6 and 25 years old, which amounts to a total of 2090 fingerprints. Ridge count was carried out on distal radial and distal ulnar and on proximal regions of each finger to explore the RD patterns in order to identify similarities and differences among samples, areas, age groups, and sexes. RD decreased with age and, at all ages, RD was higher on the distal (radial and ulnar) areas, followed by the proximal sides. Females were found to have higher RD than males when older than 12 years, but not when younger. In the radial area, the Mataco-Mataguayo population, in both sexes, presented the RD similar to Spanish samples, but higher than all other populations analysed to date using this method. Variations in RD in the Amerindian population based on sex, age, and topology were confirmed in this work, and it is postulated that these variations are due to developmental differences among individuals and populations. A comparison between the Mataco-Mataguayo and Spanish populations is presented.     

Age- and sex-associated variations in the directional asymmetry of rhesus macaque forelimb bones

Several investigators have questioned the significance of handedness as an explanation of directional forelimb asymmetries, yet little has been done to isolate other explanatory factors. In this investigation, we analyze 61 female and 76 male rhesus macaque skeletons for evidence of age- and/or sex-associated variations in ten forelimb bone measurements. All significant directional asymmetries are found to favor the right side. Although some of these asymmetries are found to favor the right side. Although some of these asymmetries are compatible with the interpretation of muscle hypertrophy associated with preferential use of the right forelimb, the overall pattern suggests that age- and sex-related ontogenetic factors deserve equal consideration. Significant sex differences in asymmetry means are present within and across age groups (juveniles, subadults, and adults), and numerous changes in asymmetry with age are also found. A pattern of decreasing asymmetry with age was found in males, with 40% of the ten measures being asymmetrical in juveniles, 30% in subadults, and 20% in adults. Among females, this pattern is reversed. No significant asymmetries were found for juvenile or subadult females, whereas 40% of the measures were asymmetrical in adult females. We conclude that greater consideration of age- and sex-related factors is necessary when drawing samples for the purpose of investigating asymmetries, and an awareness of trait-specific age and sex patterns of variation is necessary when citing forelimb asymmetries in demographically nonrepresentative populations as evidence of handedness or other behavioral asymmetries.     

Quantitative finger dermatoglyphics in the Mediterranean region of Murcia,Spain

Quantitative finger dermatoglyphics have been analyzed in a Spanish population on the Mediterranean coast, from a sample of 347 individuals (163 males and 184 females) whose four grandparents were born in the studied region (Murcia). From the prints of the sampled individuals, radial, ulnar, and maximal ridge counts have been examined using classical methodology according to the pattern orientation. Kolmogorov test was used to evaluate the normality of the count values. Paired t-test, t-test for two samples, and Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney non-parametric U test were used to explore bimanual and sexual differences. Maximal and radial ridge counts show similar distributions fitting into a normal distribution. Instead, ulnar values show a particular distribution clearly different from normality. The bilateral and sexual differentiation patterns reveal the divergence between the ulnar counts and the maximal and radial values. In comparison to other Iberian populations our results show a particular position of Murcia with the lowest TFRC values in the Spanish variation ranges.     

Finger ridge-count variation in 45,X Turner's syndrome

Summary Finger ridge-counts of 109 45,X Turner's syndrome patients were compared to normal controls by means of discriminant functions. Each subject was represented by 20 variables, a radial and an ulnar count for each digit. Not only do Turner patients exhibit larger counts, but the distribution of counts over the digits is altered considerably. The Turnernormal differences appear to correspond to previously defined developmental fields.     

Quantitative digital dermatoglyphics in males and females of four Sardinian linguistic groups

Radial and ulnar ridge counts on each of the 10 fingers, total finger ridge count, bilateral summed radial and ulnar finger ridge counts, an index of asymmetry between homologous fingers and two indices of intraindividual diversity of finger ridge counts were used to identify biological relationships among Sardinian linguistic groups. Stepwise discriminant analysis of 26 digital traits of 1258 Sardinians, 647 females and 611 males, was carried out. The results indicate high intergroup heterogeneity; moreover, with p≤0.01 as F-to-enter and p≤0.05 as F-to-remove, only 5 of the 26 digital variables are in the model (URC R5, RRC L5, RRC R5, URC R4, URC L5). The pattern of interpopulation biological relationships shows a clearly distinct position of the Gallurian group (both males and females), which speaks an Italian dialect. It originated mainly from Corsican immigration to the Gallura region starting from the XVII century. While the properly Sardinian linguistic groups (Campidanian and Logudorian) and the Sassarian group, which speaks an Italian dialect that developed as a “lingua franca” during the Middle Ages (XII–XIV centuries) due to linguistic contact between Sardinians and Italians, are positioned close to one another. This pattern agrees more with the ethno-historical back-ground than with the linguistic one.     

Fingerprint pattern factors

Factor analysis was employed using the ulnar ridge count, radial ridge count, ridge count (the larger of the radial or ulnar count as generally used for calculating total ridge count), and pattern type for each finger in 720 twins. Pattern type and ulnar count displayed parallel factor loadings while loadings for radial and ridge count also paralleled each other. This relationship did not hold for the index finger, indicating the importance of pattern direction and greater pattern diversity for this digit. Total ridge count was most closely associated with a factor of ring and little finger radial and ridge count and only secondarily with an index finger factor. When radial and ulnar counts were deleted to make comparisons with earlier studies, the result was factors having groupings of variables identical with previous reports. It appears that factor analysis results in consistent extraction of identical or very similar factors from different populations, and the use of radial and ulnar counts adds more information than when only the larger of the two counts is considered.     

Dental development in the cotton ear marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

The frequency of minutia types was studied in finger prints of 77 males and 82 females. Dermal ridges were clearly printed by a revised method for this purpose. The fork index, which represents the frequency of forks in minutiae, is higher in females for each finger than in males. It differs on each finger, i.e., low on the digit I, high on the digits, III, IV and V, and intermediate on the digit II. The mean of the index for each finger distributes from about 15 to 24. Bilateral difference is not evident. The correlation coefficient between right and left hands ranges from 0.52 to 0.79. Forks appear more frequently in ulnar loops than in whorls. It is revealed that the occurrence of forks differs in dermal regions.     

海南岛黎族指、掌纹研究及临高人与汉族、壮族指、掌纹特征比较

本文描述了海南岛黎族和临高人的指、掌纹特征;应用聚类分析方法对临高人与汉族、壮族的指、掌纹特征进行了比较。作者认为:(1)黎族的个别掌纹特征表明存在着黎族与某些黑色人种混血的可能性;(2)黎族的四个支系中,(亻考)黎的指、掌纹特征最具有代表性;(3)临高人的指、掌纹特征与汉族类似而与壮族有着较大的差异。     

Three palmar dermatoglyphic traits and their asymmetry in Bulgarian right-, mixed- and left-handers

Summary: In a sample, comprising 264 right-, 246 mixed- and 360 left-handers (RH, MH and LH, correspondingly), the atd-angle, the a-b ridge count and the hypothenar radial arch were investigated, the asymmetry of both quantitative traits differentiated into directional (DA) and fluctuating (FA) one. Except for the FA of the a-b ridge count in females, which decreased significantly from RH to LH, the trends observed in the relations between the investigated dermatoglyphic values and handedness were not significant. In both quantitative traits the most important finding was the categorical left-palm excess over the right palm, since it was significantly related to sex and handedness, being much more expressed in females than in males and in the non-right-handers than in the right-handers. The hypothenar radial arch, along with its considerably higher frequency in females than in males and on the right palm than on the left, as well as its rarity combined with a very high symmetry, displayed another interesting peculiarity. The pattern was 3.9-fold more frequent in the MH and 3.4-fold more frequent in the LH as compared to RH. As witnessed by the odds ratio, if a given palm belongs to a non-right-hander, the probability that it bears a hypothenar radial arch is nearly 4-fold higher than if it were a palm of a right-hander. Arguments are adduced that left-handedness, although not a pathological character is, to say the least, a modified condition and that, similarly, the hypothenar radial arch is a subnormal dermatoglyphic finding. If such is the case, their relationship found by the present study is not surprising, although its causal background still remains unclear.     

Finger dermatoglyphics and their asymmetry in Bulgarian right-, mixed- and left-handers

Since Bulgarians have never been investigated concerning the relationship between handedness and dermatoglyphics, the present study was aimed to investigate the aforementioned relationship in a Bulgarian sample. Digital dermatoglyphics and their asymmetries have been studied in 870 apparently healthy students from randomly selected Bulgarian secondary schools: 264 right-handers (RH), 246 mixed-handers (MH) and 360 left-handers (LH). The whorls were significantly less frequent and the ulnar loops more frequent in RH than in the other two handedness categories. Right-handers exceeded significantly MH and LH in the ulnar fluctuating asymmetries of the first and the fourth finger pairs. As compared to the number of investigated variables and especially to the important psychological and behavioral differences between handedness categories reported earlier in the same sample, the presented significant findings are rather scarce. Nevertheless they could contribute to the accumulation of data concerning the investigated relationship and to its better understanding.     

Digital dermatoglyphics of Bulgarians from northeast Bulgaria

Digital dermatoglyphics were collected from 1,065 male and 1,065 female Bulgarians from northeast Bulgaria. None of the subjects had a diagnosed or suspected genetic or chronic disease of any kind. The fingerprints were classified by the 18-type system of Monique de Lestrange, modified to provide rapid and easy comparison with simpler classification systems. All the standard finger pattern indices were calculated. Certain modifications were introduced into the delta indices, it being borne in mind that each tented arch possesses a triradius and each complex (three-centered, accidental) whorl contains three triradii. A deltadiagram was constructed and its configuration was compared with those of some other populations. In addition, a new radioulnar index was proposed, representing a ratio between all the radial and all the ulnar patterns. The total, absolute, ulnar and radial finger ridge counts were calculated and their sample distributions were investigated. The dermatoglyphic features were evaluated and presented for each sex and each hand separately in order to investigate both the sex and bilateral differences. The set of data presented in this paper is a component of the physical anthropology of the general Bulgarian population. At the same time these data can be used as controls when analyzing the dermatoglyphic findings in Bulgarian patients with genetic diseases or congenital malformations.     

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.     

Digital ridge-counts of Efe pygmies

The mean total digital ridge-counts among a sample of Efe of the Ituri forest is 96.4 in males (n = 153) and 96.6 in females (n = 54). These are the lowest values yet recorded and probably represent the lower extreme in the spectrum of ridge-counts of non-pathological populations.     

Dermatoglyphic asymmetry and diversity in some pathologies

The evaluation of dermatoglyphic asymmetry represents a specific estimate of the stability of intrauterine development. In the present study, we analyzed the level of asymmetry and diversity in the radial and ulnar counts of each finger in 400 health Sardinian individuals and in 469 Sardinian subjects with four common diseases in Sardinia: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, arterial hypertension and multiple sclerosis. To measure the asymmetry, we used three indices: fluctuating asymmetry, the index of asymmetry and the index of diversity. The differences from the control group are only rarely significant. The values of fluctuating asymmetry do not present a particular distribution in relation to the pathologies, while the values of {ie139-1} and diversity are usually higher in the pathological groups. The differentiation is especially evident in the subjects with multiple sclerosis, intermediate in the diabetics and practically nil in the hypertense individuals.