Anthropometric Comparison of Cross-Sectional External Ear between Monozygotic Twin

Anthropologists are commonly believed that characteristics and the shapes of the human external ear are extensively different. The objective of this study is to explore the potential of anthropometric data from external ear in individualization of monozygotic twin which also known as identical twin. Data of external ear features using 16 landmarks along with the measurements of inter-landmark length were taken from 95 pairs of identical twins ages between 7 to 31 years old throughout Malaysia, in order to explore whether data from external ear can be used as a purpose of individualization of monozygotic twin. Measurements were taken using digital caliper with the resolution 0.01mm. Statistical analysis of all inter-landmark measurements of ear pattern conducted by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) test using SPSS software to obtain the differences between both individual from the same pair of twin. Results showed that mean differences of measurement of outer ear landmarks between pairs of identical twins was only between 2.87% to 18.06%. There were no significant differences between ears of monozygotic twins for almost all dimensions of interlandmarks and also between pair of identical twin. Among 95 pairs of monozygotic twins, only 4 pairs showed significant differences of ear pattern between their twin pairs.