Limb development genes underlie variation in human fingerprint patterns.

Fingerprints are of long-standing practical and cultural interest, but little is known about the mechanisms that underlie their variation. Using genome-wide scans in Han Chinese cohorts, we identified 18 loci associated with fingerprint type across the digits, including a genetic basis for the long-recognized "pattern-block" correlations among the middle three digits. In particular, we identified a variant near EVI1 that alters regulatory activity and established a role for EVI1 in dermatoglyph patterning in mice. Dynamic EVI1 expression during human development supports its role in shaping the limbs and digits, rather than influencing skin patterning directly. Trans-ethnic meta-analysis identified 43 fingerprint-associated loci, with nearby genes being strongly enriched for general limb development pathways. We also found that fingerprint patterns were genetically correlated with hand proportions. Taken together, these findings support the key role of limb development genes in influencing the outcome of fingerprint patterning.

Shifting decision thresholds can undermine the probative value and legal utility of forensic pattern-matching evidence.

Forensic pattern analysis requires examiners to compare the patterns of items such as fingerprints or tool marks to assess whether they have a common source. This article uses signal detection theory to model examiners' reported conclusions (e.g., identification, inconclusive, or exclusion), focusing on the connection between the examiner's decision threshold and the probative value of the forensic evidence. It uses a Bayesian network model to explore how shifts in decision thresholds may affect rates and ratios of true and false convictions in a hypothetical legal system. It demonstrates that small shifts in decision thresholds, which may arise from contextual bias, can dramatically affect the value of forensic pattern-matching evidence and its utility in the legal system.

Enabling Lipidomic Biomarker Studies for Protected Populations by Combining Noninvasive Fingerprint Sampling with MS Analysis and Machine Learning.

Triacylglycerols and wax esters are two lipid classes that have been linked to diseases, including autism, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, cardiovascular disease, dry eye disease, and diabetes, and thus are molecules worthy of biomarker exploration studies. Since triacylglycerols and wax esters make up the majority of skin-surface lipid secretions, a viable sampling method for these potential biomarkers would be that of groomed latent fingerprints. Currently, however, blood-based sampling protocols predominate in the field. The invasiveness of a blood draw limits its utility to protected populations, including children and the elderly. Herein we describe a noninvasive means for sample collection (from fingerprints) paired with fast MS data-acquisition (MassIVE data set MSV000092742) and efficient data analysis via machine learning. Using both supervised and unsupervised classification, we demonstrate the usefulness of this method in determining whether a variable of interest imparts measurable change within the lipidomic data set. As a proof-of-concept, we show that the method is capable of distinguishing between the fingerprints of different individuals as well as between anatomical sebum collection regions. This noninvasive, high-throughput approach enables future lipidomic biomarker researchers to more easily include underrepresented, protected populations, such as children and the elderly, thus moving the field closer to definitive disease diagnoses that apply to all.

Sexual dimorphism and topological variability in fingerprint ridge density in a north-west Indian population.

The science of fingerprints is very crucial in criminal investigation as it helps identify perpetrators or victims of a crime. Fingerprint ridge density (FPRD), which refers to the number of ridges within a specific area on the epidermal skin layer of the distal phalanges in humans, has been found to differ between males and females. This study attempts to estimate the sex from FPRD and evaluates the diversity in FPRD across several topological areas. The study involves 208 participants (120 males, 88 females) between the ages 18 to 25 years from a North-west Indian population. Fingerprints were collected, and FPRD was accessed in radial, ulnar, and proximal areas as recommended by Gutierrez-Redomero et al. (Forensic Sci Int 180(1):17-22, 2008). FPRD has been quantified using the techniques described by Acree (Forensic Sci Int 102(1):35-44, 1999). When evaluating FPRD in the lateral pocket loops and twin loops, the proximal-side core was considered. The study reveals that males have a mean fingerprint ridge density of 12.82 ridges/25 mm2 while females have 13.01 ridges/25 mm2. Females have higher fingerprint ridge density solely in the proximal area; males have higher fingerprint ridge density in both radial and ulnar areas. In conclusion, this research underscores the potential of fingerprint ridge density as a parameter for investigating population variations and individual identification. Future studies on fingerprint ridge density in India's diverse population will help establish reference ranges, allowing for sex and likely population group estimation, making it a valuable tool for preliminary examinations and exclusion criteria for sex estimation in crime scene investigations.

Matrix- and surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry analysis of fingermark components for forensic studies: current trends and future prospects.

The chemical analysis of fingermarks (FMs) has attracted considerable attention in the realm of forensic investigations. Techniques based on direct ionization of a sample by laser irradiation, specifically matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), have provided excellent figures of merit for analyzing high molecular-weight compounds. However, it can be challenging to analyze low molecular-weight compounds using MALDI-MS owing to potential interference produced by the organic matrices in the low molecular-weight region, which can impede the detection of small molecules (m/z < 700 Da). Alternately, surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) has shown great promise for small molecules analysis owing to the unique properties of the nanostructures used, particularly, minimal chemical background in low m/z region improved the production of ions involved in this method. The advancement of MALDI-MS and SALDI-MS has propelled their application in the analysis of FM components, focused on gaining deep insights into individual traits. This review aims to outline the current role of MALDI-MS and SALDI-MS in the chemical analysis of FMs. It also describes the latest achievements in forensic intelligence derived from fingermark analysis using these powerful methods. The accomplishments include the understanding of certain characteristics and lifestyles of donors. The review offers a comprehensive overview of the challenges and demands in this field. It suggests potential enhancements in this rapidly expanding domain to bridge the gap between research and practical police casework.

Innovative Solutions for Worn Fingerprints: A Comparative Analysis of Traditional Fingerprint Impression and 3D Printing.

Fingerprint recognition systems have achieved widespread integration into various technological devices, including cell phones, computers, door locks, and time attendance machines. Nevertheless, individuals with worn fingerprints encounter challenges when attempting to unlock original fingerprint systems, which results in disruptions to their daily activities. This study explores two distinct methods for fingerprint backup: traditional fingerprint impression and 3D printing technologies. Unlocking tests were conducted on commonly available optical fingerprint lock-equipped cell phones to assess the efficacy of these methods, particularly in unlocking with worn fingerprints. The research findings indicated that the traditional fingerprint impression method exhibited high fidelity in reproducing fingerprint patterns, achieving an impressive unlocking success rate of 97.8% for imprinting unworn fingerprints. However, when dealing with worn fingerprints, the traditional fingerprint impression technique showed a reduced unlocking success rate, progressively decreasing with increasing degrees of finger wear. In contrast, 3D-printed backup fingerprints, with image processing and optimization of ridge height, mitigated the impact of fingerprint wear on the unlocking capability, resulting in an unlocking success rate of 84.4% or higher. Thus, the utilization of 3D printing technology proves advantageous for individuals with severely worn or incomplete fingerprints, providing a viable solution for unforeseen circumstances.

Healing Function for Abraded Fingerprint Ridges in Tactile Texture Sensors.

Tactile texture sensors are designed to evaluate the sensations felt when a human touches an object. Prior studies have demonstrated the necessity for these sensors to have compliant ridges on their surfaces that mimic human fingerprints. These features enable the simulation of contact phenomena, especially friction and vibration, between human fingertips and objects, enhancing the tactile sensation evaluation. However, the ridges on tactile sensors are susceptible to abrasion damage from repeated use. To date, the healing function of abraded ridges has not been proposed, and its effectiveness needs to be demonstrated. In this study, we investigated whether the signal detection capabilities of a sensor with abraded epidermal ridges could be restored by healing the ridges using polyvinyl chloride plastisol as the sensor material. We developed a prototype tactile sensor with an embedded strain gauge, which was used to repeatedly scan roughness specimens. After more than 1000 measurements, we observed significant deterioration in the sensor's output signal level. The ridges were then reshaped using a mold with a heating function, allowing the sensor to partially regain its original signal levels. This method shows potential for extending the operational lifespan of tactile texture sensors with compliant ridges.

Fingerprint Recognition in Forensic Scenarios.

Fingerprints are unique patterns used as biometric keys because they allow an individual to be unambiguously identified, making their application in the forensic field a common practice. The design of a system that can match the details of different images is still an open problem, especially when applied to large databases or, to real-time applications in forensic scenarios using mobile devices. Fingerprints collected at a crime scene are often manually processed to find those that are relevant to solving the crime. This work proposes an efficient methodology that can be applied in real time to reduce the manual work in crime scene investigations that consumes time and human resources. The proposed methodology includes four steps: (i) image pre-processing using oriented Gabor filters; (ii) the extraction of minutiae using a variant of the Crossing Numbers method which include a novel ROI definition through convex hull and erosion followed by replacing two or more very close minutiae with an average minutiae; (iii) the creation of a model that represents each minutia through the characteristics of a set of polygons including neighboring minutiae; (iv) the individual search of a match for each minutia in different images using metrics on the absolute and relative errors. While in the literature most methodologies look to validate the entire fingerprint model, connecting the minutiae or using minutiae triplets, we validate each minutia individually using n-vertex polygons whose vertices are neighbor minutiae that surround the reference. Our method also reveals robustness against false minutiae since several polygons are used to represent the same minutia, there is a possibility that even if there are false minutia, the true polygon is present and identified; in addition, our method is immune to rotations and translations. The results show that the proposed methodology can be applied in real time in standard hardware implementation, with images of arbitrary orientations.

Customizable Presentation Attack Detection for Improved Resilience of Biometric Applications Using Near-Infrared Skin Detection.

Due to their user-friendliness and reliability, biometric systems have taken a central role in everyday digital identity management for all kinds of private, financial and governmental applications with increasing security requirements. A central security aspect of unsupervised biometric authentication systems is the presentation attack detection (PAD) mechanism, which defines the robustness to fake or altered biometric features. Artifacts like photos, artificial fingers, face masks and fake iris contact lenses are a general security threat for all biometric modalities. The Biometric Evaluation Center of the Institute of Safety and Security Research (ISF) at the University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg has specialized in the development of a near-infrared (NIR)-based contact-less detection technology that can distinguish between human skin and most artifact materials. This technology is highly adaptable and has already been successfully integrated into fingerprint scanners, face recognition devices and hand vein scanners. In this work, we introduce a cutting-edge, miniaturized near-infrared presentation attack detection (NIR-PAD) device. It includes an innovative signal processing chain and an integrated distance measurement feature to boost both reliability and resilience. We detail the device's modular configuration and conceptual decisions, highlighting its suitability as a versatile platform for sensor fusion and seamless integration into future biometric systems. This paper elucidates the technological foundations and conceptual framework of the NIR-PAD reference platform, alongside an exploration of its potential applications and prospective enhancements.

Molecular docking study on europium nanoparticles and mussel adhesive protein for effective detection of latent fingerprints.

Background: Reflecting on the difficulty of finding the evidence of latent fingerprints on wet and rough surfaces, scientists need to visualise those fingermarks without any background interference and stable adhesion of visualising material over the fingermark residues.Objective: To stabilize the interaction with the fingermarks, the synthesized nanoparticles were conjugated with a highly adhesive biopolymer, Mussel Adhesive Protein (MAP) which can effectively interact with fingerprint deposits.Material and Methods: Rare earth metal, europium oxide and nanoparticles were used as a visualisation material to get high contrast and reduced background interference-based fingerprints. To stabilise the interaction with the fingermarks, the synthesised nanoparticles were conjugated with highly adhesive biopolymer, Mussel Adhesive Protein (MAP) which can effectively interacts with fingerprint deposits. A molecular docking study was done using Auto-Dock to find the binding affinity between the metal nanoparticle and the protein. Further, the stability of the bioconjugated with fingerprint residues was analysed by protein-protein interaction study through patch dock and PDB Sum.Results: The docking analysis between europium and nanoparticles with MAP was found to be -8.77 kcal/mol and -47.49 kcal/mol respectively. Protein-protein interaction studies showed a highest affinity for dermcidin and keratin with a binding affinity of -16.76 kcal/mol and -24.76 kcal/mol respectively.Conclusions: The docking studies showed an efficient interaction between the synthesised molecules and the fingermark residues. Results of these interaction studies proved that this bio-conjugated complex can be explored for efficient visualisation of low intensified fingermarks.

Effects of solvent-based adhesive removal on the subsequent dual analysis of fingerprint and DNA.

The combined approach of classical fingerprinting and DNA profiling is a powerful tool in forensic investigations of latent "touch" traces. However, little attention has been paid to the organic solvents frequently used in dactyloscopic laboratories to facilitate the separation of adhesive evidence prior to fingerprint development and downstream effects on subsequent DNA profiling. In the present study, we tested a selection of adhesive removers (n = 9) and assessed their potential impact on DNA recovery and amplification by PCR. Thereby, we identified and characterized novel PCR inhibitors. All investigated chemicals contain volatile organic compounds that evaporate under normal indoor atmospheric conditions. Exposure to certain solvents resulted in increased DNA degradation, but only if evaporation was prevented. A series of adhesive-removal experiments were conducted with prepared mock evidence (self-adhesive postage stamps affixed to paper envelope) to investigate the impact of treatment time and the location of applied traces on DNA recovery and dactyloscopy, respectively. Due to the early onset of print decomposition, we found that only a short treatment time was compatible with the development of fingerprints on the adhesive side of a stamp. Solvents also removed DNA from the adhesive surface, thus resulting in a marked shift in the substrate distribution of recovered DNA from the stamp to the envelope, but not in the reverse direction. Furthermore, we observed that treatment with conventional fingerprint reagents lead to a significant reduction in the amounts of DNA recovered from stamps, while the additional use of adhesive removers did not significantly enhance this effect.

Wet nitrocellulose membrane for the level 3 feature visualization of various latent fingerprints and gender determination.

A facile and high-resolution enhancement of latent fingerprints (LFPs) has been developed by using a wet nitrocellulose (NC) membrane as a matrix under natural light. A clear fingerprint pattern was presented on the membrane after a fingertip touch owing to the difference in light transmittance between the ridge residues and the wet-NC-membrane background. Compared with conventional methods, this protocol can provide a higher resolution fingerprint image to extract level 3 details accurately. It is also compatible with commonly used fingerprint visualization techniques (magnetic ferric oxide powder and AgNO3. The modified membrane could be more general to realize the high-resolution visualization of LFP transferred from various substrates, even independent of light projection. Due to the excellent feasibility and reproducibility of level 3 details extracted by the wet NC membrane, the frequency distribution of the distance between adjacent sweat pores (FDDasp) could be used to effectively distinguish the fragmentary fingerprints. Finally, the level 3 features of LFPs from females and males were conveniently extracted by the wet-NC-membrane method for gender identification. The statistical results indicated that females had a higher average sweat pore density (115/9 mm2) than males (84/9 mm2). Taken together, this approach provided a high-resolution, reproducible, and accurate imaging of LFPs, which shows great promise for forensic information analysis.

Development, detection and decipherment of obfuscated fingerprints in humans: Implications for forensic casework.

Fingerprints have been widely used and accepted as an effective method of human identification. This biometric tool aids in criminal investigations for personal identity for over a century. Whilst the Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) has bolstered security efforts, it has also opened doors to potential scams, affecting both civilian and law enforcement operations. Despite extensive research on fingerprint authentication issues, very little attention has been given to addressing the problem of fingerprint alteration or obfuscation. Fraudsters, with the guidance of experts, have developed new techniques to obscure their fingerprints intentionally. Fingerprint obfuscation is the deliberate alteration of fingerprint patterns with the aim of concealing their true identity, raising concerns amongst security and investigative organizations. The objective of the current communication is to highlight the numerous techniques used for obfuscation, forgery and alteration of fingerprints in humans. It further accentuates the need for identification and interpretation of these altered fingerprints and recommends notifying law enforcement agencies of potential threats.

Unusual fingerprint patterns in humans: implications for forensic casework and fingerprint research.

The tenacity of the fingerprint evidence for the identification of criminals has been well documented, but none of the research work so far focussed on unusual prints. Therefore, in the present study, we attempted to define rarely encountered fingerprints in a human population. Our purpose was to explore unusual pattern types on the finger balls and compare these with commonly occurring and classifiable pattern types. Furthermore, we discuss the occurrence of unusual fingerprints in both the sexes with reference to the finger digits. The study was conducted on 512 participants aged between 18 and 35 years from two ethnic groups of North India. A total of 5120 fingerprints from each digit of the 512 individuals were obtained. The fingerprints were analysed for the pattern types based on Henry's classification. Patterns that did not fall in the prescribed category as per the definition of the published finger pattern types were identified as unusual fingerprints. We found an incidence of unusual prints of 0.21% and describe these based on a comparison with the general pattern types according to Henry's classification. We describe eleven unusual fingerprint patterns, formulating categories that may aid in the individualisation process. The proposed new nomenclature of these unusual fingerprints may assist forensic scientists and fingerprint examiners in better understanding and labelling of similar patterns in forensic cases. Our research may also influence the general forensic science community and biological anthropologists in making population standards pertaining to different types of fingerprints in various population groups and their genetic and familial relationships.

Role of Twins in Waardenburg Syndrome: 1916 - present/Twin Research Reviews: MZ Twins' Different Dermatoglyphics; Twins with Sagittal Suture Crainosynostosis; Blood Pressure in Female Twins; MZ Twins' Education and Political Knowledge/Media Reports: Twins Created by Reciprocal In Vitro Fertilization; Reared-Apart Triplets' Limited TV Series; Abducted Twin Infants; Winkelvoss Twins Charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission; Going From 'Me' to 'We'.

Waardenburg's syndrome involves deafness accompanied by various visual difficulties. The role of twins in identifying this disorder and advancing understanding of its origins and symptoms is described, beginning in 1916 and continuing to the present. This overview is followed by current research on monozygotic (MZ) twins' different dermatoglyphic features, twins with sagittal suture crainosynostosis, blood pressure in female twins, and MZ twins' education and political knowledge. The final section presents media reports describing controversies surrounding twins created by reciprocal in vitro fertilization, reared-apart triplets' limited TV series, abducted twin infants, the Winkelvoss twins' charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and going from 'Me' to 'We'.

Fingerprint ridges allow primates to regulate grip.

Fingerprints are unique to primates and koalas but what advantages do these features of our hands and feet provide us compared with the smooth pads of carnivorans, e.g., feline or ursine species? It has been argued that the epidermal ridges on finger pads decrease friction when in contact with smooth surfaces, promote interlocking with rough surfaces, channel excess water, prevent blistering, and enhance tactile sensitivity. Here, we found that they were at the origin of a moisture-regulating mechanism, which ensures an optimal hydration of the keratin layer of the skin for maximizing the friction and reducing the probability of catastrophic slip due to the hydrodynamic formation of a fluid layer. When in contact with impermeable surfaces, the occlusion of the sweat from the pores in the ridges promotes plasticization of the skin, dramatically increasing friction. Occlusion and external moisture could cause an excess of water that would defeat the natural hydration balance. However, we have demonstrated using femtosecond laser-based polarization-tunable terahertz wave spectroscopic imaging and infrared optical coherence tomography that the moisture regulation may be explained by a combination of a microfluidic capillary evaporation mechanism and a sweat pore blocking mechanism. This results in maintaining an optimal amount of moisture in the furrows that maximizes the friction irrespective of whether a finger pad is initially wet or dry. Thus, abundant low-flow sweat glands and epidermal furrows have provided primates with the evolutionary advantage in dry and wet conditions of manipulative and locomotive abilities not available to other animals.

Unclonable fluorescence of MgO-ZrO2 :Tb3+ nanocomposite for versatile applications in data security, dermatoglyphics.

Latent fingerprints (LFPs) are one among the most important types of evidences at crime scenes because of the distinctiveness and tenacity of the friction ridges in fingerprints (FPs). Therefore, it is essential in forensic science to develop a reliable method to detect LFPs. Traditional detection methods still face a number of difficulties, such as limited sensitivity, low contrast, strong background, and complex processing stages. In this study, MgO-ZrO2 :Tb3+ (1-5 mol%) (MZ:Tb) nanocomposites (NCs) were prepared via a simple solution combustion (SC) method at low temperature. The photoluminescence (PL) investigation demonstrates that when excited at 379 nm, the produced NCs emits distinctive emission peaks of terbium ions (Tb3+ ). According to the photometric results, the NCs can be employed as warm light NCs and emit light in the green portion of the colour spectrum. The estimated optical band gap from diffuse reflectance spectra is found to be in the range 4.84-4.97 eV. Regardless of the type of surface being used, the optimized MgO-ZrO2 :Tb3+ (4 mol%) (MZ:4Tb) NCs has a strong ability to minimize background fluorescence interference. With high contrast LFP and I-V type of cheiloscopy, these NCs present a flexible fluorescent mark for the identification of levels 1-3 details in forensic investigation.

Assessment of the Relation Between Craniofacial Tissue Profile-Morphology and Dermatoglyphics.

This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the convexity angle of facial tissue and fingerprint types by analyzing the connection between dermatoglyphic prints and facial structure. A total of 65 adults (24 females, 41 males) participated in the study. Each participant's fingerprint was analyzed using conventional methods of observation upon the index finger of the dominant hand. Fingerprints were classified into 3 fundamental types: arch, whorl, or loop. Craniofacial profiling was performed with measurements of hard tissue (Gl'-A-Pg') and soft tissue facial convexity (Gl-Sn-Pg) and total facial convexity (Gl-Prn-Pg) angles between 3 anthropological points determined on the lateral direct radiographs of the participants. Soft tissue convexity facial angle (Gl-Sn-Pg) values were found to be an average of 166.83° in females and an average of 162.05° in males. (Gl-Prn-Pg) values were found to be an average of 138.54° in females and 135.27° in males. The soft tissue profile of males showed a significantly convex structure compared with females. Also, the "whorl" type of fingerprint was found to be dominant in both sexes. There is no statistically significant difference in terms of soft tissue profile convexity in individuals belonging to the 3 different fingerprint groups. No statistically significant difference in soft tissue profile angular values between right-hand thumb and index fingerprint type groups were found among and between sexes. However, a comprehensive analysis of the relationships between the nose, lips, mouth, ear, and eyes and fingerprints of the same person may prove to be beneficial.

MALDI MSI Separation of Same Donor's Fingermarks Based on Time of Deposition-A Proof-of-Concept Study.

Despite the advent of DNA profiling, fingerprints still play an important role in suspect identification. However, if single crime scene marks may be challenging to identify, overlapping fingermarks, understandably, pose an even greater challenge. In the last decade, mass spectrometry-imaging methods have provided a possible solution to the separation of fingermarks from two or more donors, based on the differential chemical composition. However, there are no studies attempting to separate overlapping marks from the same donor. This is important in relation to fingermark deposition at different times, which could be critical, for example, to ascertain legitimate access to the scene. In the work presented here, we investigate whether Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Mass Spectrometry Imaging can separate the same donor's fingermarks deposited at different times based on intra-donor fingermark composition variability. Additionally, the hypothesis that the different times of deposition could be also determined was investigated in the view of linking the suspect at the scene at different times; the dating window of MALDI MSI within the selected molecular range was explored. Results show that it is possible to separate overlapping fingermarks from the same donor in most cases, even from natural marks. Fresh marks (0 days) could be separated from those of fourteen days of age, though the latter could not be distinguished from the set aged for seven days. Due to the use of only one donor, these are to be considered preliminary data, though findings are interesting enough to warrant further investigation of the capabilities and limitations of this approach using a larger cohort of donors.

Prevention aid in qualitative analysis of dermatoglyphic patterns in relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: The significant differences in the fingerprint pattern frequencies in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and controls could be a possible way to identify patients with a risk of developing T2DM. The results could be used in the earlier diagnosis and treatment. The study was undertaken to find out the reliability of fingerprint patterns as a possible predictive tool for T2DM diagnosis. METHODS: A total of 1,260 fingerprints were acquired using the optical contact sensor DactyScan 26i. The results of the qualitative analysis of the fingerprint pattern frequencies have been compared between T2DM patients and controls and also between the fingers to each other. We have detected the frequency of patterns: plain arch (Ap) and tented arch (At), radial loop (Lr), ulnar loop (Lu), double loop (Ld), spiral whorl (W), and plain whorl (concentric) (Wp). Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's chi-square by Statistica ver. 12. RESULTS: We found statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the frequency of individual dermatoglyphic patterns among patients with diabetes and healthy controls as follows: in the left thumb (L1) in a radial loop, double loop and spiral whorl pattern; in the left middle finger (L3) in a tented arch and radial loop; in the right ring finger (R4) in a tented arch, spiral and plain whorl; and in the right little finger (R5) in a tented arch and spiral whorl. CONCLUSION: Fingerprint pattern frequencies might be used as another screening tool and indicator in T2DM prevention. Qualitative analysis of fingerprint patterns could be useful regarding the additional prevention diagnostics of T2DM in the population.