Evaluation of asymmetry using thumbprint minutiae among Hausa population of Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

The present study was aimed at determining the existence of FA in Hausa populations using thumbprint minutiae. The participants included 112 males and 105 females of Hausa Ethnic descent, aged between 18-25 years. The minutiae of the plain thumbprints were determined from a circle with radius that cut across the nucleus of the fingerprints. The result showed that in signed asymmetry bifurcation, crossbar, break, point/dot into ridges and point/dot between ridges exhibited sexual dimorphism. The left ward asymmetry in male was exhibited in bifurcation, cross bar, trifurcation bifurcation, break, bridge, opposite bifurcation, in "M" convergence, in "M" bifurcation and Point/Dot into ridges. Similarly, in female bifurcation, trifurcation bifurcation, enclosure big, opposite bifurcation, convergence, in "M" bifurcation and return exhibit left ward asymmetry. For absolute and composite asymmetry the significant differences was observed in end, enclosure (small), bridge and return. In the entire minutiae types only ridge bifurcation exhibited directional asymmetry in males and six other minutiae types in females. In conclusion, the presence of sexual dimorphism in thumbprint ridge minutiae was demonstrated in the present study. The leftward asymmetry was observed in both sexes in different types minutiae. Females were observed to exhibit directional type of asymmetry more than the males in this population.

Keywords: Asymmetry, Environmental stress, Hausa population, Ridge minutiae, Sexual dimorphism