Comparative Study of Dermatoglyphics among the students of Ziauddin University

Abstract

Objective: To determine the distribution of finger print pattern among students of Ziauddin University belonging to 
different ethnic origins specifically pertaining to different ABO blood groups and also to correlate any relation 
between fingerprint pattern with ethnicity and ABO blood groups.  
Study Design: Cross sectional study. 
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Ziauddin University Karachi from 1st Jan. 2010 to 30th 
June, 2010. 
Materials and Methods: This comparative study was carried out at Ziauddin University Karachi. 250 students, 50 
students each from 1st year to 5th year were included by simple random technique. Students within age range of 19
24 years, belonging to any gender, ethnic group or any ABO blood groups were included in this study. Students 
suffering from eczema, chronic dermatitis, leprosy were excluded from study. Also students with permanent scars 
on their fingers and thumbs and deformities on finger either due to acquire or congenital traumas were also 
excluded. Fingers prints of both hands including thumbs were taken on a plain paper with a stamp pad by plain 
method. ABO Blood grouping of each student was performed. A Performa was made in which name, age, gender, 
ethnicity, type of blood group and type of finger print pattern were tabulated.  
Results: 138 students were males and 112 were females with ratio of 1:2:1. Age range was between 19-24 years. 
Loop pattern were predominant (48.8%), followed by whorl pattern (32%) and then arch (19.2%). Blood group B 
was most frequent (47%), followed by O group (27%), A group (18.8%) and AB Group (6.8%) respectively. 
Applying chi square test the p value obtained in variables i.e. finger prints with blood groups and fingerprints with 
ethnicity, no significant correlation was found.  
Conclusion: No significant association was found in types of finger prints with ABO blood groups and type of 
ethnic origin respectively. This study requires to be done at larger scale with larger sample size representing true 
indicator of population.