Fingerprint resemblance amongst siblings and non-siblings - Forensic and anthropological implications

Abstract

Fingerprints hold a crucial position in forensic science, primarily for identification purposes, with thumbprints emerging as the most frequently recovered evidence at crime scenes. The main purpose of the present study was to conduct a comparative analysis of thumbprints of siblings and non-sibling pairs to investigate resemblance and similarities in fingerprint patterns. Thumbprints of 144 individuals (72 siblings and 72 non-siblings) from 36 families were obtained. Jaccard Similarity Index was employed to analyse the similarity between the fingerprint patterns of siblings and non-siblings. The strength of association between the variables is evaluated by chi-square and Cramer's V tests. The results indicated a significant similarity (69.44%) in thumbprint patterns among sibling pairs, demonstrating congruence in their right thumbprints, while non-sibling pairs exhibited a mere 30.56% similarity in the right thumbprints. Statistical analyses revealed a significant association (p = 0.0002) between sibling pairs, indicating a strong correlation in right-hand thumbprint patterns. The study bears substantial implications across various fields, including anthropology, population genetics, medical genetics and forensic science. Moreover, it may facilitate the examination of population similarities and variations and may aid in enhancing forensic investigations by identifying familial resemblance and similarity.

Keywords: Familial resemblance; Fingerprints; Forensic identification; Siblings.