Dermatoglyphics and saliva blood grouping can be used for sex identification

Abstract

Fingerprints and blood-groups constitute identifying characteristics of individuals. Correlation between dermatoglyphics and blood groups can be of use in victim identification. The aim of the present study was to determine accuracy of blood-group determination  from saliva and to establish the association between distribution of fingerprint pattern and blood-groups in gender identification. 100  dental undergraduate students aged 18-22 years participated in the study. Fingerprint pattern was determined using Ink Method. ABO  blood- grouping was done from saliva using the absorption-elution method. Present study showed that, most common fingerprint  pattern was Loops (60%), followed by Whorls (26%) and Arches (14%). Most common blood-group was B, followed by A and O.  Higher percentage of secretors in saliva was observed with females (86%) as compared to males (80%). In males, most common  blood-group was AB while A was more common in females. In males, arches were most common finger print pattern (60%) whereas  in females loops (55%) and whorls (52%) were more common. The study reports association between blood-group and  dermatoglyphics which may help in gender identification in Forensic Medicine. It also suggests that saliva can used for ABO blood group determination when blood stains are not available at crime-site.