- 期刊
Profiling Fingerprint Patterns in Singapore Across Race and Gender for Forensic Applications
摘要
Previous empirical studies conducted overseas have suggested a possible correlation between fingerprint patterns and gender, and between fingerprint patterns and race. However, no such studies have been carried out in Singapore. Therefore, this study aims to profile the fingerprint patterns in Singapore across different genders and races, so as to determine the relationship between fingerprint patterns and gender, as well as between fingerprint patterns and race. Our results have confirmed that the proportion of fingerprint patterns on all thumbs and fingers are independent of an individual's gender. On the other hand, surprisingly, our results showed that the proportion of fingerprint patterns on the left thumb, left middle and left ring fingers depend on one's race. It was also observed that the most common fingerprint pattern on our thumbs (right: 56.0%, left: 50.0%), index (right: 48.2%, left: 47.5%) and ring fingers (right: 60.0%, left: 62.4%) are whorls, while the most common fingerprint pattern on our middle (right: 63.1%, left: 58.9%) and little fingers (right: 71.6%, left: 76.2%) are ulnar loops. Looking only at gender, the majority of female and male subjects have whorls on all thumbs and fingers. However, taking only race into account, the majority of Chinese subjects have whorls on all thumbs and fingers. In the case of Indian and Malay subjects, most have ulnar loops on all thumbs and fingers.