Relationship between genetic anomalies of different levels and deviations in dermatoglyphic traits Dermatoglyphic sexual dimorphism in control healthy group of Israeli Jews

The present study was carried out in order to evaluate the effect of chromosomal and monogenic or polygenic morbidity, as well as anomalies or conditions with still unknown genetic components, based on dermatoglyphic traits and indices of diversity and asymmetry. The main objectives of the present study is to find dermatoglyphic traits and ‚uctuating asymmetry indices which could be “marker traits” to various diseases, and could indicate the degree of developmental instability, even if a phenotypic expression has not yet been found like in endometrial carcinoma or carcinoma of cervix, or parents with a high risk to transmit a disease to their children. The research stages have been as following: 1) To find dermatoglyphic characteristics of discrete and continuous traits and indices of ‚uctuating and directional asymmetry (FA & DA) and diversity in chromosomal syndromes (Down, Turner, Klinefelter), monogenic disease (Cystic Fibrosis), polygenic morbidity (Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip with or without Cleft Palate), and females suffering from endometrial carcinoma or carcinoma of cervix (diseases of unclear origin, with the possible presence of genetic factors), in comparison with control groups; 2) To find dermatoglyphic characteristics in parents with children with Down syndrome (DS), Cystic Fibrosis (C.F.), Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip with or without Cleft Palate (CP & CL[P]), compared with control group; 3) To check the assumption that in all studied diseases and chromosomal anomalies, a significant elevation exists in the level of dermatoglyphic ‚uctuating asymmetry, in patients as well as in parents; 4) To compare the dermatoglyphic levels of sexual dimorphism in all studied diseases and chromosomal anomalies, (in patients and parents), with control groups; 5) To use the dermatoglyphic data in order to identify an existing or potential aberration in females with high risk to endometrial carcinoma or carcinoma of cervix; 6) To analyze dermatoglyphic data from parents of children with DS, C.F. and CP & CL(P), in order to identify individuals with an increasing tendency to transmit such aberrations on to their descendants. Finger and palm prints of patients with syndromes diseases and of healthy (control) were collected on 2300 individuals. Classifica62 Eugene Kobyliansky et al. tion and analysis of the dermatoglyphics were performed according to Cummins and Midlo (1943, 1961) and Penrose (1968), 79 dermatoglyphic variables for every patient: 28 continuous traits, 9 discrete traits, 11 indices of intraindividual diversity, 15 indices of directional asymmetry and 16 indices of ‚uctuating asymmetry. The problem of asymmetry, ‚uctuating and directional, and of intra-individual diversity of quantitative dermatoglyphic traits is here reviewed, as well as illustrated by data obtained on a sample of healthy control group of Jews from Israel. The two categories of variables, the quantitative traits and the indices of asymmetry and diversity, provided similar possibilities to discriminate between the sexes. The obtained data of sexual dimorphic dermatoglyphic traits will be used as a standard for comparison of individuals with genetic anomalies of different levels.