Intra-individual variability and bilateral asymmetry of dermatoglyphic ridge counts in Israeli males

The total finger ridge count (TFRC), the intra-individual variability of finger ridge counts (variables S/√10 and S/√5), and the bilateral asymmetry of the finger ridge counts (variable A) were studied in 473 Israeli Jewish males, divided into four subgroups according to origin: Eastern Europe (Group I), Central Europe (Group II), Middle East (Group III) and North Africa (Group IV). The means of the TFRC varied from 156.13 in group II to 135.38 in group IV. The differences between these two extremes are significant at the 1% confidence level. The values of S/√10 varied from 3.55 to 4.11, of S/√5 from 6.01 to 7.18 and of A - from 7.69 to 8.51. Only for S/√10 and S/√5 were the differences between the extreme groups, II and IV, significant at the 5% confidence level. The distribution of the studied variables and their correlation coefficients were similar in all four groups.