INHERITANCE OF FINGERPRINT PATTERNS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 28  (3) , 280-289
Abstract
Analysis of the fingerprints of 571 members of the Israeli Habbanite isolate suggest inherited patterns and pattern sequences. A genetic theory was developed; it assumes that the basic fingerprint pattern sequence is all ulnar loops and that a variety of genes cause deviations from this pattern sequence. Genes that were proposed include: a semidominant gene for whorls on the thumbs (1 homozygote has whorls on both thumbs, the other has ulnar loops on both thumbs and the heterozygote usually has 2 ulnar loops or 1 ulnar loop and 1 whorl); a semidominant gene for whorls on the ring fingers which acts like the gene for whorls on the thumbs; a dominant gene for arches on the thumbs and often on other fingers; 1 or more dominant genes for arches on the fingers; a dominant gene for whorls on all fingers except for an ulnar loop on the middle finger; a dominant gene for radial loops on the index fingers, frequently associated with an arch on the middle fingers, and a recessive gene for radial loops on the ring and little fingers. These genes may act independently or may show epistasis.

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