Genetic Determinants of 22 Quantitative Dermatoglyphic Traits in the Chuvashian Population of Russia: Complex Segregation Analysis

Background: Dermatoglyphics is widely used as a genetically determined trait in Anthropology. However, little is known about their pattern of inheritance due to lack of advanced statistical genetic model-fitting techniques despite the existence of advanced statistical packages. Objectives: The aim of the present study is to determine the mode of inheritance of dermatoglyphic traits through complex segregation analysis. Subjects and Methods: Finger and palmar prints of 325 individuals belonging to 104 families from the Chuvashian population of Russia were used for principal component analysis, familial correlation, and segregation analysis (package MAN-5). Results: The results suggest a common internal structure of three factors when compared with other populations. (b) Significant familial correlations (except spouse) indicate the involvement of familial components to the variation of dermatoglyphic traits. (c) Segregation analysis reveals the transmission of genetic effects in the families, which follows the Mendelian model and confirm major gene effect on factors 1 and 2, whereas there is no evidence of major gene effect or an environmental effect on factor 3. Conclusion: Major gene involvement with Mendelian expectation regarding finger dermatoglyphics is confirmed for all analyzed traits. However there is no evidence of significant support for major gene effect or environmental effect on palmar a-b ridge counts.