Study of fingerprint classification and their gender distribution among South Indian population

Identification of an individual plays a vital part of any medicolegal investigation. Fingerprint is considered to be the most accurate and reliable indicator in identification. The present study was conducted on 500 South Indian subjects to determine the individuality and the predominant fingerprint pattern among South Indian population. Two-hundred and fifty males and 250 females of South Indian origin were included for this study and rolled prints were taken from all the 10 digits and the same were stored on a proforma. The most frequent fingerprint pattern was ulnar loop in the total population, as well as in the sex wise distribution. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.