Distribution of Fingerprint Pattern Arch in Right Index Finger of Natives (Inhabitants) of Three Geographically Different Regions of India (Published)
Since the advent of fingerprint science, researchers have been linking distribution of pattern types with human races. However, it was only after 1892, when Dr. Galton published his book – Finger Prints, where he categorised digital ridgeglyphics into Arch, Loop and Whorl, the fingerprint pattern classification came into prominence. In one of his studies, he calculated percentage frequency of arches in the Right Fore-finger of 2082 individuals belonging to four different races. In such studies of the past, and contemporary epochs, scientists have envisioned to segregate human races, or population groups on the basis of distribution of pattern types in the top phalanges of their fingers. The objective of this paper was to examine whether there existed any relationship between prevalence of rare pattern arch in Right Index finger, with nativeness / habitancy of Indians from three geographically different regions. The ten-digit fingerprint slips of 200 Indians from Himalayan Hill States, Plain (Flat) Lands, and Costal Regions, covering 18 States/Union Territories, were incorporated for the research. Unlike other fingerprint pattern types, emphasis was on pattern arch, which is rare, thus was included as a unique tag or marker for categorization of individuals for this ethnographic analysis. The study has once again proved that fingerprints are unique, and revealed no uniformity or commonality in occurrence of arches in the natives or inhabitants of a particular State/Union Territory (province) or the whole region.
Keywords: Patterns, habitancy, nativeness, race, ten-digit fingerprint slip