Variation in palmar interdigital ridge-counts among the 20 Dhangar castes of Maharashtra, India.

Bilateral palmar prints of 2927 males of 20 endogamous Dhangar castes of Maharashtra, India, were studied for the distributions of a-b, b-c and c-d interdigital ridge-counts. The ridge-counts have been utilized for examining the inter-population affinities among the Dhangar castes. The distribution of a-b ridge-counts is symmetrical and normal in Dhangar castes. The distributions of b-c and c-d ridge-counts on both palms also show (nearly) normal distribution, but with a tendency of negative skewness and platykurtosis in c-d ridge-count. Equality of means and standard deviations depict significant heterogeneity. The decreasing order of magnitude of means of interdigital ridge-counts is a-b > c-d > b-c among all the Dhangar castes. Intercaste comparisons reveal a great deal of variations in all ridge-counts. The pattern of relationship between the Dhangar castes based on the three ridge-counts is in agreement with the expected patterns of affinities based on the known ethno-historical evidence. The significant finding of the study is that the palmar interdigital ridge-counts follow normal distribution and that they are useful in studying inter-population affinities.

Anthropometric affinities among the 20 endogamous groups of Dhangars of Maharashtra, India.

Fourteen anthropometric measurements were used to examine the affinities among 20 Dhangar castes of Maharashtra, in a sample of 2437 adult males. The results are interpreted in the light of their ethnohistorical and geographical backgrounds on the one hand and with reference to the affinities observed on the basis of other biological variables, different sets of qualitative and quantitative dermatoglyphic variables and genetic markers, on the other. The configuration of anthropometric distances is largely conformatory to the geographical backgrounds of the groups, and there is no significant correspondence with the dendrograms based on the other sets of variables which are mutually independent among them.

Qualitative dermatoglyphic traits as measures of population distance.

Thirteen Iranian populations of diverse origin have been analyzed for qualitative dermatoglyphic features utilizing bilateral finger and palmar prints of 3,158 individuals. Bimanual differences were significant for some of the features examined, whereas sex differences were frequently nonsignificant. Interpopulational variation displayed significant heterogeneity for all of the features studied. Distance analysis and constructed dendrograms provided separation between populations in agreement with known ethnohistoric records for hypothenar triradii, and for palmar and finger patterns, but not for the terminations of the D-Line.

Absence of triradius d on the palm of a leprosy patient.

An extremely rare finding of absence of digital triradius d in a case of borderline tuberculoid leprosy from Maharashtra is reported with review of literature.

Variations on dermal ridges in nine population groups of Maharashtra, India. I. Intra- and interpopulation diversity.

From rolled fingerprints of 646 males belonging to nine endogamous groups of Maharashtra, India, the intra- and interpopulation variability is studied by considering three traits: total finger ridge count (TFRC), absolute total finger ridge count (ATFRC) and finger pattern intensity index (FPII). Complete distributions are reported for the three major clusters: five caste Hindus, three tribes, and the Parsees. Dermatoglyphic distances computed by Mahalanobis' D2 are compared with genetic distances.

Ridge course of the whorls: classification and methods.

In dermatoglyphic methodology the system of gross classification of digital pattern types needs modifications. More attention should be focussed on the study of minute morphological variations among pattern types in order to understand fully the genetic mechanisms involved in pattern variations. A systematic classification to record many of the morphological peculiarities is lacking. The paper proposes a classification and methods of identification of the direction of the course of the ridges inside the pattern area of true whorls. In all, nine ridge course types are identified, named and described. Data analysed on the basis of the above methods and classification reveal significant bilateral differences for clockwise and counter-clockwise types of ridge directions. Mode of inheritance, bisexual differences, etc., of the polymorphic course of these ridges should be studied. Its usefulness in the field of personal identification, population genetics and medicine should also be evaluated.