Anthropological dermatoglyphics: A review

Abstract

Research in dermatoglyphics having direct interest and application to anthropology has continued to grow since the turn of the century. Anthropological dermatoglyphics can offer important perspectives in viewing the nature and significance of human variation. Several forefronts of ongoing research are reviewed. First, methodology continues to improve definition and classification of variables. A second line of inquiry deals with hereditary aspects. Inheritance models, both monogenic and polygenic, have been proposed. Single locus systems seem to have limited application, as in the transmission of triradial excess or deficiency illustrated by the missing c triradius. Polygenic inheritance has been demonstrated in quantitative phenotypic expressions exemplified by the total finger ridge‐count. Exciting recent research employing the “field concept” has discovered a small number of developmental factors which correspond well with earlier findings on volar pad development and dermatoglyphic features. Maternal and other environmental effects have been shown to operate on dermatoglyphic expression. Human population studies using dermatoglyphics began with early racial descriptions and currently utilize multivariate procedures for detecting evolutionary processes. Congruence testing between dermatoglyphics and other biological distance measures is also an active endeavor. In this connection, dermatoglyphic variable selection has become important in recognizing that different variables might well be useful in micro‐ and macroevolutionary situations. Finally, dermatoglyphic analysis has. been applied to primate studies. Although this area has not kept pace with human studies, primate work has been crucial for the important matters of taxonomic assessment and functional dermatoglyphics. Copyright © 1980 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company