Dermatoglyphic studies among the two breeding isolates of Gujjars of Northwestern India

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Abstract
Dermatoglyphic studies among two breeding isolates of Gujjars (200 individuals from each population) from northwestern India have been carried out. The distribution of phenotypic frequencies of dermatoglyphic features among the Hindu and Muslim Gujjars provides strong evidence that these populations have become distinct in the course of their history. This could have occurred due to the inflow of genes from Muslim invaders and surrounding populations or from the effects of inbreeding and biosocial and geographical isolation of the Muslim Gujjars from their counterpart, the Hindu Gujjars. However, the frequency distribution of dermatoglyphics of the Hindu Gujjars. Resembles those of the Rajputs, Jats, and Ahirs, suggesting an infrequent inflow of genes from neighboring populations and probably their recent isolation. Sexual dimorphism for dermatoglyphics has also been observed in both Hindu and Muslim Gujjar populations.