BHU scientist part of global research team that finds genes responsible for fingerprints

NEW DELHI: Chandana, a scientist from Centre for Genetic Disorders, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is the only scientist from India to be a part of a global research team that found genes responsible for fingerprint pattern in humans. A landmark study, recently published in one of the most prestigious scientific journals of Science CELL, has found that fingerprint patterns in humans are determined by limb development genes.

The study was conducted by a team of international scientists comprising those from Shanghai, Australia, UK, USA, and India.

“Fingerprints are known to be unique to an individual but they can be generally categorized into three types – arch, loop, and whorl. To understand the genes responsible for fingerprint patterning, the team studied DNA from more than 23,000 individuals from different ethnic groups and identified 43 genetic loci contributing to fingerprint patterning,” as per BHU’S official press statement.

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Interestingly, they found that most of these genetic loci are from the genes involved in the limb development pathways rather than genes related to skin development. One of the topmost genes identified was EVI1, which has been known for its role in embryonic limb development.

When the team further tested using mouse models of EVI1, they found that genetically modified mice with decreased expression of EVI1 developed abnormal skin patterns on their digits compared to the wild-type normal mice.

Furthermore, the study also revealed the correlation of fingerprint patterns with hand proportions. For example, people with whorl-shaped fingerprints on both their little fingers tend to have longer little fingers than those who don’t.

Chandana said, “There are no fingerprints in mice, but it was interesting to develop a method of scoring the ridges (the analogue of fingerprints). When we compared these ridge patterns between modified EVI1 and normal mouse, we found a similar result as humans.” This is one most comprehensive study on genetics of fingerprint patterns.

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Vice-Chancellor Sudhir K Jain said, “I am delighted that our young colleague Chandana from the Centre of Genetic Disorders has published some very high quality research work in CELL, one of the most renowned Journals of Science. This study can be a starting point for the use of dermatoglyphics and related genetics in identification of congenital disorders and in public health. BHU is already at the forefront of human genetics research and I am very hopeful that in the coming years we will have many more such contributions from BHU researchers.”