Incidence of finger pattern types and pattern intensity in a Spanish population (Tierra de Campos)

The incidence of finger pattern types and the pattern intensity distribution in a Spanish sample (417 males and 416 females) drawn from the geographical area of Tierra de Campos have been studied. Sexual and bilateral differences for both dermatoglyphic traits were explored by means of chi 2-test and Mann-Whitney U-test, showing significant differences in all cases, excepting the sexual difference between left hands for pattern intensity. Kolmogorov test for distribution normality showed that pattern intensity was not normally distributed, being the distributions right skewed because of the low frequency of classes with fewer triradii. The results obtained in Tierra de Campos were compared with those observed in other Spanish and Portuguese populations, showing more heterogeneity in the pattern types than in pattern intensity. This could imply that arches account for the main source of variation between populations. Moreover, pattern type frequencies and pattern intensity in Tierra de Campos are, as expected, within the variation ranges of Southeuropean-Mediterranean populations and Caucasians as a whole, although the incidence of radial loops is located in the lower extremes of the corresponding variation ranges.     

Quantitative characterization of finger and palm dermatoglyphics in Bulgarians

In the present paper data on finger and palm ridge counts of both hands are reported from representative samples of healthy Bulgarian males and females. Dermatoglyphic prints from both hands of 2431 Bulgarians (1161 males and 1270 females) have been taken in 116 settlements all over the country. The investigated males and females were healthy, not related persons of Bulgarian origin. The results of finger and palm ridge counts include basic statistics and correlations between ridge counts on separate fingers and the correlations between ridge counts in separate interdigital areas. The results, presented together with data on other dermatoglyphic features elaborated and published till now by the same authors for representative samples of Bulgarian males and females, can serve for the set up of a detailed data basis of the dermatoglyphic status of the Bulgarian population. At the same time they could serve as a norm for clinical and medico-biological investigations with theoretical and scientific applied purposes.     

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 dermatoglyphics in the Corsican population (France)

Finger pattern types, pattern intensity indices and finger ridge counts in 110 individuals (54 males and 56 females) from Corte in the central area of Corsica (France) were investigated. The comparison of the Corsican qualitative and quantitative digital dermatoglyphics with those from other samples of Mediterranean and European countries show a clearcut difference between Corsicans and Continental Italian populations and a great affinity between Corsicans and Sardinians. These results are regarded as compatible with the interpretation of archaeological, historical and genetic evidence.     

Quantitative and qualitative finger dermatoglyphics in the Basque Valley of Urola, Spain

Digital dermatoglyphics of an indigenous sample of 87 males and 101 females from the Urola Valley in the Spanish Basque Country are compared with those from the nine other Basque valleys previously analyzed. In both sexes of the Urola Valley, there is a very high frequency of radial loops; the mean found in this valley extends the range of variation for South European-Mediterranean populations, and it is in the superior limit of all Caucasian populations. There are bimanual and sex differences in the frequencies of whorls and loops. Contrary to what occurs normally in populations, in the Urola Valley the frequency of whorls is higher in females and the quantitative value of digital patterns is lower in males. The results of this study show the existence of heterogeneity among valleys for digital trait frequencies and for finger ridge count, and this heterogeneity is more marked in females.     

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.     

Digital dermatoglyphics in the Basque population: univariate and multivariate comparison with other Spanish populations

We have analyzed dermatoglyphic finger patterns in a Spanish Basque population (841 males and 911 females). Bimanual and sexual comparisons have been carried out by means of contingency analysis. The results in the Basque population are compared with those of other Spanish populations, based on univariate (chi 2 contingency test and Student's t-test) and multivariate (principal components analyses) statistical methods. Bilateral distribution asymmetry and sexual dimorphism were observed in the Basque sample. The results of the chi 2 test for pattern types in males and females show statistically significant differences between the Basques and other Spanish populations, with the exception of the males from El Bierzo. Comparing populations with regard to the Pattern Intensity Index, the differences observed are much lower; therefore, this confirms what other authors have suggested regarding the limited usefulness of indexes in populational comparisons. In the Caucasian variation range of pattern types, Basques are located in the high part with regard to arches, in the low part with regard to whorls and radial loops, and in an intermediate part in relation to ulnar loops and overall pattern intensity. Results of the multivariate comparisons show which populations are more or less distant from the Basque population and which variables are significant in contributing to these population relationships.     

Ethnic diversity in Punjab as based on finger dermatoglyphics

Four ethnic groups of Punjab having same dialect viz. Khatris, Jats, Brahmins and Muslims were taken to see ethnic differences in regards to the distribution of whorls, loops, and arches of finger dermatoglyphics. The results show that there is a great diversity in the four groups for these parameters. These groups were compared with similar ethnic groups of other places having different dialect. The results reveal that there seems to be ethnic affinity between the group known by same name and which is true for all the four groups.     

Quantitative digital and palmar dermatoglyphics: Sexual dimorphism in the Chuvashian population of Russia

With the aim of determining sex dimorphism among the Chuvashian population of Russia, digital and palmar dermatoglyphics of 547 individuals (293 males, 254 females) were analyzed. The sex differences for PII, TRC, and AFRC are similar to Indian and Jewish populations. Correlation coefficients between individual finger ridge counts are a little lower than in Jews but are almost equal to Indian populations. The Mantel test of matrix correlation between sexes for 22 traits shows a very good similarity. However, sex differences of palmar traits display different levels when compared with other human populations. In light of this, our evidence indicates the possible role of environmental (prenatal) factors in the realization of dermatoglyphic sex differences. The development of palmar dermatoglyphics has had a relatively longer growth period compared with fingers [Cummins, H., 1929. The topographic history of the volar pads (walking pads, tast ballen) in the human embryo. Embryol. 20, 103-126]. The palmar dermatoglyphic pattern of affinities therefore corresponds better than fingers to the ethno historical background of the populations, ascertained by numerous studies.     

Phenogenetics of human dermatoglyphics (a factorial model)

The factor analysis was made of the intrapair differences of the quantitative characteristics of the finger dermatoglyphics in mono- and dizygotic twins. The mechanisms determining "laterality" and "locality" of separate factors are discussed. The developmental model is proposed that suggests existence of several embryonic fields and subsequent incorporation of the genes to control the formation of finger prints.     

Palmar dermatoglyphics as a means of identifying individuals in a baboon population

Dermatoglyphic patterns provide a reliable, permanent means of identifying individual primates in wild populations. Unlike the conventional marking techniques applied in wildlife biology, they are not prone to fading, loss, or distortion. Nonetheless, they have not been previously used for identification in primate field studies. We report here two simple techniques for recording dermatoglyphs in the field and describe an application of the method to a long-term study of population dynamics among baboons (Papio hamadryas, sensu lato)in central Ethiopia. Members of a baboon population were live-trapped, and replicas made of their palmar dermatoglyphics, in 1973, 1982, 1983, and 1984. By comparing the 1973 set with the later samples, we were able to identify four animals, two of each sex. All had been subadult or newly adult in 1973, as determined by dental eruption. Eleven years after their first capture, both females were still members of the same troop, although this had apparently amalgamated with a neighboring group. Both males had migrated. One had moved from one olive baboon group to another; the other (a hybrid) had moved from the hybrid zone described by Nagel (1973) into an olive troop. Ten animals were identified in both the 1983 and the 1984 samples, and one of these had previously been recorded in both 1982 and 1973. Establishing identity by means of dermatoglyphics promises to be a useful tool in studies where sampling episodes are widely separate in time.     

Qualitative aspects of palmar dermatoglyphics in a sample of Sardinian population

The author examines certain qualitative aspects of palmar dermatoglyphics in 820 individuals of both sexes from the city of Cagliari (Sardinia). The overall results obtained are discussed and the sexual and lateral differences are considered. The sample examined differs from other Mediterranean samples because of a tendency toward a vertical trend of the papillary lines, a lower frequency of patterns in the 2nd and 3rd interdigital areas and a higher frequency of patterns in the 4th interdigital area.     

The multivariate analysis of dermatoglyphics in population systematics

In this paper a multivariate analysis of dermatoglyphics was carried out. The following traits were used: pattern intensity on fingers, average of main line D terminations and frequencies of patterns in the five configurational areas of the palm. Firstly a cluster analysis is produced and completed with a principal components analysis. The results of both studies show clear agreement. The main conclusion is: the multivariate analysis of dermatoglyphics displays several groups of populations, which with the peculiarities pointed out in the paper, are in concordance with the classical racial stocks.     

Surnames,geographic altitude,and digital dermatoglyphics in a male population from the province of Jujuy (Argentina)

The possible association between finger dermatoglyphic patterns and altitude and surname distribution was analyzed in a sample of adult males from the province of Jujuy, Argentina. We also investigated the biological affinity of this population with other South American natives and admixed populations. Fingerprints were obtained from 996 healthy men, aged 18–20 years, from the highlands (HL: 2500 m, Puna and Quebrada) and lowlands (LL: Valle and Selvas). Surnames were classified into native/autochthonous (A) or foreign (F), resulting in three surname classes: FF, when both paternal and maternal surnames were of foreign origin; FA, when one surname was foreign and the other was native; and AA, when both surnames were native. Frequencies of finger dermatoglyphic patterns – arches (A), radial loops (RL), ulnar loops (UL), and whorls (W) – were determined for each digit in relation to geographic location, altitude, and surname origin, resulting in the following categories: HL-FF, HL-FA, HL-AA, LL-FF, LL-FA, and LL-AA. The statistical analyses showed that UL and RL were more common in individuals of HL origin, whereas W and A were more frequent in the LL males (p < 0.05). Significant associations were observed between finger dermatoglyphic patterns and surname origin when geographic altitude was considered. In the HL group, UL was associated with AA and FA; in the LL group, the presence of A was associated with FF and FA. The distribution of dermatoglyphic patterns shows that the population of Jujuy belongs to the Andean gene pool and that it has undergone differential levels of admixture related to altitude.     

Quantitative dermatoglyphics in schizophrenia: study of family history subgroups

Finger and a-b palmar ridge-count dermatoglyphic features were studied in schizophrenics with and without a positive family history of schizophrenia. Associations are reported for low quantitative dermatoglyphic values in schizophrenia. The differences found between the two subgroups of patients support the genetic heterogeneity of schizophrenia and stress the existence of congenital factors when there is no family history, that is, a genetic background.     

Microbial population and biochemical changes in fermenting finger millet (Eleusine coracana)

Natural fermentation of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) was carried out for 48 h. Microbiological and chemical analysis was performed throughout the fermentation process. The fermentation was heterolactic dominated by lactic acid bacteria accompanied by the production of lactic and acetic acids with decrease in pH and increase in titratable acidity. The microbial population increased until 18 to 24 h accompanied by a rapid decrease in total and reducing sugars. The microflora stabilized between 24 and 48 h, during which time the total and -amylase activities increased with accumulation of sugars. Total free amino acids also increased. Yeast counts were low and moulds and coliforms were absent. Repeated fermentations showed consistency in the qualitative and quantitative changes in microflora. Five predominant types of bacteria, strains belonging to Leuconostoc, Pediococcus and Lactobacillus were identified. Of these only one type, Pediococcus, dominated (>80%) in the latter half of fermentation.