Determination of Gender Differences from Fingerprints Ridge Density in Two Northern Indian Population of Chandigarh Region

Ridge width influences the number of ridges present in a specified area of a fingerprint epidermal ridge density and several researches have been carried out on this aspect of fingerprints. The present study has been carried out to examine ridge density differences in two Northern Indian populations (Khatri and Bania). In the present study it has been found that 92% of Khatri females have a mean ridge density above 13, whereas 76% of Khatri males have (a mean ridge density) below 13, while in Bania, 100% of females have mean ridge density above 14 and 80% of males below 14. The study suggests that there are significant differences in epidermal ridge density between males and females within each of the two populations and also significant differences between the two populations. This study will provide additional information for the fingerprint examiner in analyzing finger impressions and narrowing down an investigation involving a large number of samples.