The study of skin ridge patterns on the fingers, palms, and soles is known as Dermatoglyphics. These ridge patterns are permanent, unique to each individual, and remain unchanged throughout life, making them a highly reliable tool for personal identification. Dermatoglyphics has been utilized since ancient times and has evolved into an important diagnostic and screening tool, especially in conditions with a strong genetic basis. The formation of fingerprint patterns is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, resulting in distinct ridge characteristics known as minutiae, which are widely used in forensic science as strong circumstantial evidence in crime investigations. Human fingerprints are broadly classified into three primary types: loops, whorls, and arches. Loops are the most common pattern, characterized by ridges entering from one side, curving, and exiting from the same side, and are further categorized into radial and ulnar loops. Whorls consist of circular or spiral patterns with two deltas and include variations such as plain whorls, central pocket loops, double loops, and accidental whorls. Arches are comparatively rare and are identified by ridges that run from one side to the other without recurving; they are subdivided into plain and tented arches. Additionally, composite patterns represent a combination of two or more fingerprint types, reflecting the diversity and complexity of dermatoglyphic traits. The classification of human blood groups began with the discovery of the ABO Blood Group System by Karl Landsteiner in 1901, followed by the identification of the Rhesus Blood Group System by Karl Landsteiner and Alexander S. Wiener in 1937. The ABO system categorizes individuals into A, B, AB, and O groups based on the presence of specific antigens on red blood cells, while the Rhesus system classifies blood as Rh positive or Rh negative depending on the presence of the D antigen. Among these, the ABO system holds significant clinical and forensic importance. Both dermatoglyphic patterns and blood groups are genetically inherited traits, suggesting a possible correlation between them. Furthermore, variations in these traits may also be influenced by gender differences. Since fingerprints are unique and unchanging, and blood groups are stable throughout life, studying their association can provide valuable insights for identification and population-based research. Therefore, the present study aims to explore the relationship between fingerprint patterns, ABO blood groups, and gender differences. By analyzing these associations, the study seeks to contribute to existing literature and enhance the application of dermatoglyphics in forensic identification and medical research.

The present prospective study was conducted among medical students of a KNS MIMS Medical College located in Barabanki. A total of 120 participants, comprising 60 males and 60 females, within the age group of 18–25 years, were included in the study. Participants were selected based on voluntary participation, and informed consent was obtained after clearly explaining the objectives and procedures of the study. Inclusion criteria consisted of healthy individuals within the specified age group who consented to participate. Exclusion criteria included subjects with permanent scars on fingers, hand deformities due to injury, congenital defects, or disease, as well as individuals with worn-out fingerprints, presence of extra digits (polydactyly), or webbed fingers (syndactyly), as these conditions could interfere with accurate dermatoglyphic analysis and affect the reliability of the results. Prior to fingerprint collection, each participant was instructed to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water and dry them with a clean towel to remove dirt, oil, or any foreign material from the fingertips. Fingerprint impressions were obtained using the standard ink method. Each fingertip was gently pressed onto an ink (stamp) pad and then carefully rolled onto a clean sheet of paper to obtain clear ridge impressions. This procedure was repeated systematically for all ten fingers of both hands, ensuring clarity and avoiding smudging. Demographic details, including age, sex, and blood group (ABO and Rh factor), were recorded for each participant. The fingerprint patterns were examined using a magnifying lens and classified into four major types: loops, whorls, arches, and composite patterns based on standard dermatoglyphic criteria. The collected data were systematically tabulated and analyzed to determine the distribution of dermatoglyphic patterns across both hands. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the association between fingerprint patterns and gender, as well as their correlation with different ABO Blood Group System and Rhesus Blood Group System. Appropriate statistical methods were applied to assess the significance of observed variations and correlations. STASTICAL METHODS: The collected data were systematically compiled and analyzed using R software (version 3.6.3) and Microsoft Excel. Categorical variables such as fingerprint patterns, gender, and blood groups were expressed in terms of frequencies and percentages. The association between categorical variables was assessed using the Chi-square test. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 120 subjects participated in the study, with an equal distribution of males (n=60) and females (n=60). The distribution of blood groups revealed that the majority of subjects belonged to blood group B (42.5%), followed by group O (27.5%), group A (17.5%), and group AB (12.5%). Fingerprint pattern analysis showed that loops were the most predominant pattern observed across both genders, followed by whorls, arches, and composite patterns. However, no statistically significant association was found between fingerprint patterns and gender (p > 0.05), indicating a similar distribution of dermatoglyphic patterns among males and females. Further analysis demonstrated that individuals with B⁺ blood group exhibited the highest frequency of loop patterns, followed by composite patterns, while whorls were comparatively less frequent. Arches were the least observed pattern across all blood groups. A statistically significant association was observed between fingerprint patterns and Rhesus blood groups (p < 0.05), suggesting a possible correlation between dermatoglyphic traits and Rh factor. Additionally, the distribution of fingerprint patterns across ABO blood groups indicated that loops were most common in all groups, particularly in B and O blood groups, while arches were least frequent in AB blood group. However, no statistically significant association was found between fingerprint patterns and ABO blood groups (p > 0.05). Both genders showed a predominance of B⁺ blood group. Statistical analysis revealed no significant association between gender and ABO-Rhesus blood groups (p > 0.05), suggesting that blood group distribution was independent of gender in the study population.

Table 1: Distribution of Subjects According to ABO Blood Group (n = 120) Blood Group Frequency (n) Percentage (%) A 21 17.55 B 51 42.5% AB 15 12.5% O 33 27.5% TOTAL 120 100% Table 2: Distribution of Fingerprint Patterns (Overall) Pattern Type Frequency (n) Percentage (%) Loops 58 48.3% Whorls 32 26.7% Arches 12 10.0% Composite 18 15.0% Total 120 100% Table 3: Association Between Fingerprint Patterns and Rhesus Blood Group Pattern type Rh Positive(n) Rh negative(n) p-value Loops 50 8 Whorls 28 4 Arches 9 3 Composite 15 3 Total 102 18 <0.05 Table 4: Distribution of Fingerprint Patterns Across ABO Blood Groups Pattern type A (n) B (n) AB (n) O (n) Loops 10 28 6 14 Whorls 6 13 5 8 Arches 2 5 1 4 Composite 3 5 3 7 Total 21 51 15 33 p > 0.05 (Not statistically significant) Table 5: Association Between Fingerprint Patterns and Gender Pattern type Male (n) Female(n) p-value Loops 30 28 Whorls 16 16 Arches 6 6 Composite 8 10 Total 60 60 >0.05 Table 6: Distribution of ABO-Rhesus Blood Group According to Gender Blood Group Male (n) Female(n) p-value A 10 11 B 26 25 AB 7 8 O 17 16 TOTAL 60 60 >0.05

Fingerprint patterns are universally recognized as unique to every individual and continue to serve as a gold standard for personal identification in forensic science. The present study was undertaken to explore the possible association between dermatoglyphic patterns, ABO Blood Group System, and gender, considering that both fingerprint patterns and blood groups are genetically determined traits. In the current study, the majority of participants belonged to blood group B (42.5%), followed by O (27.5%), A (17.5%), and AB (12.5%). These findings are comparable to those reported by Desai et al., where blood group B was also predominant, followed by O, A, and AB groups. Such similarities suggest a consistent distribution pattern of ABO blood groups in different population groups. With respect to fingerprint patterns, loops were found to be the most common pattern across the study population, followed by whorls, composites, and arches. This observation is in agreement with several previous studies, including those conducted by Narayana et al., which also reported loops as the predominant pattern. However, Narayana et al. observed that whorls and arches were more common in females, whereas loops were more frequent in males. In contrast, the present study found loops to be the most frequent pattern in both genders, with no statistically significant association between fingerprint patterns and gender (p > 0.05). These findings are consistent with other studies that suggest dermatoglyphic patterns alone may not be reliable indicators for gender determination. The present study demonstrated a statistically significant association between fingerprint patterns and the Rhesus blood group (p < 0.05). Similar findings were reported by Eboh et al., who also identified a meaningful correlation between dermatoglyphic traits and Rh factor. This suggests that the Rh antigen system may have a genetic linkage with ridge pattern formation. However, no statistically significant association was observed between fingerprint patterns and ABO blood groups (p > 0.05) in the present study. This finding is in line with the observations of Ranjan et al., who also reported no significant correlation between these variables. On the other hand, some studies have reported significant associations, indicating variability in results across different populations and highlighting the need for further large-scale research. In terms of distribution trends, loops were most commonly associated with blood group B and least common in AB group, while arches remained the least frequent pattern overall. These observations are supported by multiple studies that consistently report loops as the dominant dermatoglyphic pattern and arches as the rarest. Additionally, the predominance of Rh-positive individuals in the study aligns with general population trends observed in similar research. A study conducted by Shrestha et al. reported no significant association between gender, blood group, and fingerprint patterns, which further supports the findings of the present study. However, some contrasting results have also been documented, where variations in pattern distribution were noted across genders and blood groups, indicating that such associations may be influenced by ethnic, genetic, and environmental factors. Overall, while dermatoglyphics remains a reliable method for individual identification, its role in predicting gender or ABO blood group appears limited based on the present findings. The significant association observed with the Rhesus factor suggests a potential area for further genetic and forensic research. Variations observed across different studies emphasize the importance of conducting larger, population-based investigations to establish more definitive correlations.

The present study was conducted to explore the relationship between fingerprint patterns, ABO Blood Group System, Rhesus blood groups, and gender among a defined study population. The findings demonstrated that fingerprint patterns, particularly loops, were the most predominant type observed, followed by whorls, composites, and arches. Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between fingerprint patterns and Rhesus blood groups, suggesting a possible genetic linkage between dermatoglyphic traits and the Rh factor. However, no statistically significant association was found between fingerprint patterns and gender, nor between blood groups and gender. Additionally, the correlation between fingerprint patterns and ABO blood groups was not found to be statistically significant in this study, indicating limited applicability of dermatoglyphics in predicting ABO blood group. Overall, while fingerprint patterns remain a highly reliable and established method for individual identification, their utility in determining gender or predicting blood group appears limited. The observed association with the Rhesus factor highlights a potential area for further research. It is important to note that the present study was confined to a specific population of medical students from Barabanki which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Therefore, larger-scale studies involving diverse populations from different geographical regions are recommended to further investigate and validate the relationship between dermatoglyphic patterns, blood groups, and gender.

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