ABSTRACT
Background: Dermatoglyphics is the scientific study of fingerprints. Fingerprint is a multifactorial trait. Largenumber of genes play their role along with environmental influence. Chromosomal aberration affect these genesand produce variation in dermatoglyphic pattern in various chromosomal syndromes.Materials and methods: The present study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Government MedicalCollege and Rajindra Hospital,Patiala and is based on digital dermatoglyphics of 100 Thalassemic patientsfrom Thalassemia Ward of Rajindra Hospital, Patiala hailing from Northern region of India. The control groupcomprises of 50 individuals of similar origin. Fingertip dermatoglyphic patterns of both hands of Thalassemiapatients and control group were recorded by INK method.The fingertip pattern type was recorded by using Henry’sclassification method. The data so obtained was compiled and analysed statistically.Results: It was found that whorls were most frequent pattern on digit IV in patients and controls, with statisticalsignificance in both hands, right hand (p value .042) and left hand (p value .010). Ulnar loops had preponderanceover other patterns on digit V in both the groups but the difference was statistically significant in left hand (pvalue .033).Conclusion: From our study it can be concluded that dermatoglyphics can prove to be an extremely useful tool forthe preliminary investigations into conditions with a suspected genetic base and dermatoglyphic abnormalitiesshould prove of considerable value in preliminary mass screening.