Background: The human dermatoglyphic traits present variations within and between populations and could be used for estimating the genetic distances between populations. Aim: This study aims to characterize the dermatoglyphic traits in the Tunisian population and to analyze eventual differences between men and women and between individuals according to their geographical distribution. Subjects and Methods: Several dermatoglyphic traits have been determined and analysed for 343 Tunisians belonging to six groups distributed on different Tunisian regions. For statistical analysis, the percent frequency, chi square test and t-test were used. The cluster analysis was applied on D2 Mahalanobis distance matrix. Results: The chi-square test revealed high significant differences between the sexes for the frequencies of arches in the case of the fifth finger and for the frequencies of loops in the case of the fourth left finger and the first left finger. The difference of the distribution of whorl type between men and women was statistically significant for the fourth left finger. While no significant differences were found between sexes in finger ridge counts. Conclusion: The intra-Tunisian population analysis shows that Tunisians living in the North and the expanded East Centre of Tunisia are genetically very close, while Tunisians from the extreme East Center and the South of Tunisia are relatively less close to them. This conclusion agrees with that deduced from recent molecular marker analyses and shows that the multivariate analysis of a high number of quantitative digito-palmar dermatoglyphic traits represents a powerful and shrewd tool in intra-population analyses. Key words: Dermatoglyphics, Fingerprints, Tunisian population, Cluster analysis, Intra-population analysis

doi: 10.4314/ijma.v1i4.1

https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ijma/article/download/66977/55095

Anthropological significance of dermatoglyphic trait variation: an intra-Tunisian population analysis.

We describe the geographic variation patterns of six dermatoglyphic traits from 144 samples in Eurasia. The methods of analysis include computation of interpolated surfaces, one-dimensional and directional correlograms, correlations between all pairs of surfaces, and distances between correlograms. There are at least two, probably three, distinct and significant patterns of variation. 1) A general NW-SE trend for pattern intensity, the main line index, and frequency of hypothenar patterns. 2) A trend from the Middle East to the north and east for frequency of axial triradius and of accessory interdigital triradii. 3) A patchy pattern for frequency of the thenar-interdigital 1. The results are compatible with a diffusion process between Europe and the peoples of Northern Asia, and possibly with a radiation of populations from the Middle East. The hypothesis of diffusion processes is supported by substantial interpopulation correlations between dermatoglyphic traits that contrast sharply with largely negligible intralocality correlations. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Geographic variation of six dermatoglyphic traits in Eurasia

Pattern types and quantitative finger dermatoglyphics have been analyzed in a Spanish population samples (141 males, 200 females) from the Mediterranean coast. For both dermatoglyphic traits sexual and bilateral differences were tested by means of Chi-square and Student's t-test. Concerning the pattern types the male samples show an intermediate position in the Spanish variation range, whereas the female sample differs from all the populations compared. In regard of the quantitative values the Delta de l'Ebre population is within the general range of ridge counts described for other Iberian samples. This is valid for both sexes.

Finger dermatoglyphics in Delta de l'Ebre: a Mediterranean Spanish population.

Background : The demographic impact of the Arabization in the Berber genetic background has been extensively studied by means of different classical and DNA genetic markers. Information from other biological traits as dermatoglyphics could be of interest in order to gain an insight into the relationship between these two North African groups. Aim : The Moroccan Berber population is characterized by means of digital and palm dermatoglyphics to determine the degree of genetic affinities among Berber and other Mediterraneans, especially the Moroccan Arab-speakers. Subjects and methods : Finger patterns, pattern intensity, finger total ridge counts, pattern frequencies in the five configuration areas of the palm, mainline D terminations, and a-b ridge count were analysed in a sample of 120 males and 103 females of Moyen Atlas (Morocco). Results : Bilateral asymmetry was more pronounced than sexual differences in the overall distribution of the analysed traits. Our two series (males and females) exhibit high v...

Dermatoglyphic characterization of Berbers from Morocco: qualitative and quantitative digital and palm data.

In this paper a multivariate analysis of dermatoglyphics was carried out. The following traits were used: pattern intensity on fingers, average of main line D terminations and frequencies of patterns in the five configurational areas of the palm. Firstly a cluster analysis is produced and completed with a principal components analysis. The results of both studies show clear agreement. The main conclusion is: the multivariate analysis of dermatoglyphics displays several groups of populations, which with the peculiarities pointed out in the paper, are in concordance with the classical racial stocks.

The multivariate analysis of dermatoglyphics in population systematics

In this paper the dermatoglyphics of an Eastern Andalusia series were analysed. The obtained data consists of 204 students (101 males and 103 females) from the University of Granada. According to their ancestors and the geographical position of this university, the sample can be considered as representtive of the Oriental Andalusia.

F. Luna

Papers

The dermatoglyphics of the Eastern Andalusia