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Dermatoglyphics in a large normal sample of caucasoids from Southern Brazil

Elizabeth de F. Penhalber; Lea Denise Barco; Sylvia R.P. Maestrelli; P.A. Otto

Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 11461, 05422-970 São Paulo, SP, Brasil. Send correspondence to P.A.O.

ABSTRACT

Over 30 dermatoglyphic parameters of genetic as well as anthropological interest were studied in a large normal sample of Caucasoids living in the city of São Paulo (300 females and 300 males). Emphasis was given to the following points: methodological (careful standardization of classification criteria and of quantitative analysis for characteristics and measurements of dubious determination) and statistical (adequate estimation of sample parameters, distribution characterization, and determination of correlations [between hands and between pairs of fingers] and of errors of measurement and observation). All the data are presented in such a manner that they can be easily used as a control in comparison with specific samples (e.g., groups of patients affected by a known chromosomal disorder).
- The sample here studied was statistically characterized in relation to the following dermatoglyphics: types of digital patterns including their quantitative evaluation (TRC, URC, RRC, ARC, diversity index and number of triradii); pattern classification and distribution on all palmar areas; description of palmar lines including D line index, T line index, main line index and A'-d ridge count evaluation; position of axial triradius (distal deviation and atd angle); ulnarity index and a-b ridge count; frequencies of types of palmar flexion creases.
Forty three quantitative characteristics of palmar and digital dermatoglyphics were analyzed, and 21 of them differed between males and females at a significance level of at least 5%. Comparing right and left hands in each sample we found 11 characteristics that differ significantly in males and eight in females.
In relation to the qualitative characteristics, we found significant differences in the following ones: a) pattern frequencies of individual forgers between women and men; b) pattern frequencies between homologous fmgers in the male and female samples; c) frequencies of patterns occurring in right and left palmar areas of women and men; d) main line configurations between the right and left hands in the male and female samples.
The correlation coefficients were significant for all possible pairs of fingers in relation to total ridge count and for both hands in relation to all quantitative characteristics.
Many of the dermatoglyphic characteristics here studied have not been reported previously for Brazilian populations. The frequencies that have been reported in previous publications are in the range of ours and the few discrepancies can be explained by the insufficient sample sizes of former studies.
Ridge counts are the measurements that involved the largest observation errors; the correct identification of the central pocket whorl digital pattern was in many instances troublesome. We point out also some other pfoblems that should be kept in mind when different samples are compared.

Keywords: dermatoglyphics; caucasoids.

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