Dermatoglyphic analysis of finger prints (Pattern and TRC) in mentally retarded population of Quetta, Pakistan

Finger printing is a multifactorial polygenic inheritance. This quantitative inheritance can be measured. This study was conducted in the population of mentally retarded section, Special School in Quetta city, Balochistan in summer 2007. Finger prints of 47 subjects were taken and studied .Same number of controls were also taken and studied. Finger print patterns as whorls, Arch, Loop, Radial Loop, Ulnar Loop and their respective Total Ridge Counts of both hands were recorded. Present studies indicated more intensity and incidence of Patterns and TRC in the mentally retarded subjects compared to the controls. Mean of total TRC were found to be 103.4 in the controls while 138 in mentally retarded individuals. Total TRC of right hand in the mentally retarded persons were slightly higher than that of left hand while it was almost the same in controls. This study was the first such observation and record in this area and can be used as the basic data which is useful for future research, biometric analysis and multi disciplinary studies.