Inheritance Patterns of Lip Prints and Fingerprints Among Family Members: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Aim: This study investigates the inheritability of lip print and fingerprint patterns among family members, thereby to enhance forensic identification methods and contribute to genetic research on human traits. Material and Methods: The study was initiated after obtaining institutional human ethical clearance. The sample comprised of 213 participants from 57 families, the research analysed the correlation between lip and fingerprint patterns, focusing on gender differences and inheritance of lip and finger patterns among the family members. The Chi-square test was used to find the association between the lip prints and fingerprints among the study participants. P value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The findings revealed that type II branched lip prints (39.9%) and whorl fingerprints (58.68%) were predominant among participants, with significant gender differences ( P < 0.000). Though the overall association between lip prints and fingerprints was not statistically significant ( P = 0.344), a strong correlation was reported between the gender ( P < 0.000). The inheritance patterns indicated a higher familial correlation for lip prints among son and son (100%) compared to fingerprints, suggesting a genetic influence on these traits. Conclusion: The study underscores the potential of integrating lip prints into forensic practices alongside traditional fingerprinting methods, advocating for further exploration of biometric characteristics in personal identification and familial inheritance.