Finger prbus have been shown to be genetically determined, co11servative in their evolution, and dif
ferent between and within population groups. Finger ridges and ridge patterns are highly heritable, chira
ble, and age-independem human traits and have been studied as a model qualltitative trait in humans for
over 80 years.
This study was corulucted 10 determine finger ridge count and pattern among Egyptians and Malay
sian subjects in order to illicit the differences between them, as well as to determine sex impacts 0 11 both
groups.
Four equal groups of 100 persons each were included from Egyptian and Malaysian people of both
sexes. All were healthy and within age range of ( 18-21) years old. ,BilateraL digital prints from each one
were obtained by inking procedure. Ridge count per 25m.m2 is detennined together with assessment of
ridge pattern rype. Statistical analysis was done with references to both sexes in both groups.
Gender based variation in ridge count in both Egyptian and Malaysian subjects were detected, where
males tend to have significantly lesser number of ridges compared to females. 505% ojmales werefowui
to have a ridge count of J2. Beyond 12 ridges the number of males decreases rapidly and no male was
found to have more tlwn I 5 ridges. On the other hatui, no fenwles were found to have 10 ridges. There
was a highly statistical difference in ridge density between Egyptian arui Malaysian females, and no sta
tistical difference between Egyptian and Malaysian males. Ridge patterns show significan.J variation
among both sexes in the included groups. Ulnar loops were significantly greo.Jer in females than in males
while in males whorls were significantly greater. Ulnar loops were the predomi11an.t ridge pattem among
the EgyptiOJIS, while whorls were more common OJnong the Malaysians.