Original research paper a study of efficacy of lip prints as an identification tool among the people of Karnataka in India.

ABSTRACT

This is a study of cheiloscopy done on the subjects from south Karnataka districts in India. Lip prints from 100 male and 100 female subjects were studied to determine the predominant lip print type and to look for any correlation between lip print types and blood groups. Tsuchihashi‟s classification of type I (complete vertical grooves), type I‟ (incomplete vertical grooves), type II (forking grooves), type III (intersecting grooves), type IV (reticular grooves) and type V (indeterminate grooves) was used. Only the middle 10 mm of the lower lip was studied as this is the area most often found at a crime scene. The prints were obtained using lipstick and cellophane tape. It was observed that type IV (reticular) was predominant in the subjects chosen for the study and that there was no correlation between blood groups and lip print types.