FINGERPRINT PATTERN DISTRIBUTION ACROSS DIVERSE INDIAN POPULATIONS: REVIEW OF LITERATURE | ||||
| The Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences and Applied Toxicology | ||||
| Volume 25, Issue 2, June 2025, Page 45-54 PDF (305.94 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Review Articles | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejfsat.2025.341964.1358 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
Devi Das ; Saumya Seal 
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| Department of Anthropology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Fingerprints are one of the most important tools in forensic science because of their uniqueness and immutability, making it possible to use the prints for the identification of individuals. Their importance, however, goes beyond criminal investigations; fingerprints provide meaningful information about genetic diversity, population structure, and demographic character, thus making them an extremely important tool in biological anthropology. Objectives: This review article closely examines fingerprint pattern distributions across different regions of India, based on data from 49 cross-sectional studies. Methodology: A search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar using the keywords 'fingerprint pattern' and 'dermatoglyphics,' resulting in the inclusion of 49 articles for this review. Results: The study explores the fingerprint patterns of tribes, rural and urban populations across parts of the country- north, east, northeast, west, central, and south. From the analysis of the current studies, we find a vast diversity in the fingerprint pattern distributions across the regions. While loops were the commonest, followed by whorls and arches, regional characteristics were quite evident. Intra-community variations and differences between sexes were also detected, suggesting that fingerprint patterns vary across communities and between sexes, highlighting the rich demographic and genetic diversity of India. Conclusion: It seems such studies can contribute to improved approaches in forensic science and provide insights into India's rich reservoir of phenotypic diversity. The study further emphasizes the necessity of conducting more region-specific studies in order to progress forensic identification and further anthropological studies. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Fingerprint patterns; Indian population; Diversity; Literature review | ||||
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