Determining Stature using Hand and Foot Dimensions on Understudied Ethnicities

Within Central America, 96% of murders go unresolved. On the contrary, only about 30% of murders go unresolved in India. Anthropometric measurements of hands and feet have been done to determine stature of a person in areas with lower unresolved murders, with less information on Hispanic ethnicities. This gap in knowledge between these two different areas and ethnicities provides the framework for this study. In many developing countries, anatomical measurements are the only source available for identification due to the cost and availability of DNA analysis. The study of anthropometry aids in the identification process. Environmental factors, lifestyle, and genetics all play a vital role in an individual's biological makeup and structure. Previous studies have found a correlation between hand and foot dimensions and stature in demographics except the Latin American populations. The aim is to provide extensive anthropometric hand and foot measurements for understudied ethnicity groups including, but not limited, to Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, and South and Central Americans. It is hypothesized that each ethnicity group will have distinct lengths and widths different from already studied demographics such as Caucasians and Indians. Using Anthropometry Kits from Cescorf, volunteers from the community and peers from those groups will provide height, hand breadth, hand length, foot breadth, and foot length, as well as their dominance and ethnicity. Statistical analysis will be used to determine the regression equation of stature using the hand and foot measurements and thus allow for more persons to be identified within this underrepresented population. Hispanic countries with limited resources to profile the missing victims can benefit greatly the results obtained from this study.