Dermatoglyphics--Fingerprint Pattern

Slatis et al. (1976) studied fingerprint patterns in an Israel isolate. On the basis of the data they suggested the operation of individual genes in determining fingerprint pattern. An assumption is that the basic pattern is all ulnar loops and that a variety of genes cause deviations from the basic pattern. These include (1) a semidominant gene for whorls on the thumbs (one homozygote has whorls on both thumbs, the other homozygote has ulnar loops on both thumbs, and the heterozygote has two ulnar loops or one ulnar loop and one whorl); (2) a semidominant gene for whorls on the ring fingers that acts like the gene for whorls on the thumbs; (3) a dominant gene for arches on the thumbs and often on other fingers; (4) one or more dominant genes for arches on the fingers; (5) a dominant gene for whorls on all fingers except for an ulnar loop on the middle finger; (6) a dominant gene for radial loops on the index fingers, frequently associated with an arch on the middle fingers; and (7) a recessive gene for radial loops on the ring and little fingers. They suggested that these genes may act independently or epistatically.

Other fingerprint anomalies include variation in ridge count (125580), arch pattern (125570), patternless ridges (125540), dermal ridges-off-the-end (125550), Nelson syndrome and dermal ridges (125530), and plain radial loop on right index finger (312200).

Also see adermatoglyphia (136000), which is caused by mutation in the SMARCAD1 gene (612761) on chromosome 4q22.3, and adermatoglyphia with congenital facial milia and acral blisters, digital contractures, and nail abnormalities (129200).