Dermatoglyphics: Comparison between Negritos Orang Asli and the Malays, Chinese and Indian

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1 From the SelectedWorks of Farahnaz Amini 2009 Dermatoglyphics: Comparison between Negritos Orang Asli and the Malays, Chinese and Indian Farahnaz Amini Available at:

2 Sains Malaysiana 38(6)(2009): Dermatoglyphics: Comparison between Negritos Orang Asli and the Malays, Chinese and Indian (Dermatoglifik: Perbandingan antara Orang Asli Negrito dengan Kaum Melayu, Cina dan India) ENDOM ISMAIL*, SHAIRAH ABDUL RAZAK, LIEYANA SELAMAT, RAVINDRAN A/L GURUSAMY, HASMARINI ZARIMAN, MOHD SHAHRIZAN SHAHRUDIN, FARAHNAZ AMINI, YOSNI BAKAR, SHUKOR MD NOR & MOHAMAD OSMAN ABSTRACT Dermatoglyphic traits are formed under genetic control during early gestation and do not change through the entire life. A few studies have shown that dermatoglyphic traits were conservative in their evolution and were different between and within population groups. The objective of this study was to compare the variability of palm dermatoglyphs in three main populations i.e. Malay, Chinese, Indian and five sub-ethnic population of Negritos Orang Asli i.e. Bateq, Jahai, Kintak, Kensiu and Lanoh. We utilised fingerprints and palms of 390 healthy adult individuals, counted the total ridge for ten fingers (TRC), a-b ridge counts (a-b RC) on palms, examined widening of the atd-angle, and classified the digital pattern configuration of arches, whorls, ulnar, and radial loops for all fingers. Variables obtained from both palm did not show any differences between males and females for all populations. TRC, a-b RC and atd-angle were the highest for Kensiu and were later on specially described to be in a group of its own by ANOVA and TUKEY test for TRC and a-b RC. The same test has put Chinese in a group of its own for atd-angle. Only a-b RC clearly separate Orang Asli populations from the three main races. Whorls and ulnar loops were the most predominant pattern in all groups. Malays and Chinese had similar distributional patterns for each ten fingers. Indian and Jahai similarly mimic each other, while Bateq has the reversal pattern distribution to them both. Kintak and Lanoh halfly mimics each other pattern and Kensiu had its own unique pattern. In conclusion, races, patterns, and pattern frequencies were related to each other and can be used to differentiate different races or Orang Asli sub-ethnics. This study documents for the first time the comparative dermatoglyphic traits between Malaysian main races with Orang Asli populations show a list of informative variables that can be used to identify them as well as suggesting it s used as a tool in tracing the etnohistorical background of populations. Keywords: Dermatoglyphic; Orang Asli; Negritos ABSTRAK Ciri-ciri dermatoglifik terbentuk di bawah pengaruh genetik semasa proses perkembangan awal dan tidak berubah sepanjang hayat. Kajian lepas menunjukkan ciri-ciri dermatoglifik terpelihara semasa evolusi dan berbeza di antara dan di dalam populasi manusia. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengkaji perbezaan variasi dermatoglifik tapak tangan bagi tiga kaum iaitu Melayu, Cina dan India dan 5 sub-etnik populasi Orang Asli Negrito iaitu Bateq, Jahai, Kintak, Kensiu dan Lanoh. Kami menggunakan cap jari dan tapak tangan daripada 390 individu dewasa yang normal dan sihat tubuh badan diikuti dengan pengiraan jumlah bilangan permatang bagi sepuluh jari, bilangan permatang a-b, sudut ATD dan pengelasan corak pada setiap jari kepada lengkung pusaran, ulnar, radial dan lengkung. Variasi yang diperoleh daripada kedua-dua tapak tangan bagi lelaki dan perempuan dalam semua populasi tidak menunjukkan perbezaan. Jumlah pengiraan permatang setiap sepuluh jari, bilangan permatang a-b dan sudut atd adalah tertinggi bagi suku etnik Kensiu yang kemudiannya merupakan populasi tersendiri melalui ujian ANOVA dan Tukey bagi jumlah kiraan permatang setiap sepuluh jari dan bilangan permatang a-b. Ujian yang sama telah mengasingkan kaum Cina dalam kumpulan yang berbeza berdasarkan sudut atd. Hanya bilangan permatang a-b membezakan Orang Asli daripada tiga kaum utama di Malaysia. Pusaran dan Ulnar merupakan corak yang paling dominan bagi semua populasi. Lengkung Melayu dan Cina menunjukkan taburan pembahagian corak yang hampir sama untuk setiap jari. Kaum India dan suku etnik Jahai mempunyai taburan pembahagian corak yang hampir sama manakala suku etnik Bateq mempunyai taburan pembahagian corak bertentangan berbanding kedua-dua populasi kaum India dan suku etnik Jahai. Kintak dan Lanoh pula mempamerkan separuh persamaan antara satu sama lain dan Kensiu mempunyai corak cap jarinya yang tersendiri. Kesimpulannya, sub-etnik kaum, corak dan frekuensi corak mempunyai perkaitan antara satu sama lain dan boleh digunakan untuk membezakan kaum atau etnik-etnik Orang Asli. Kajian ini merupakan kajian yang pertama dijalankan untuk mengkaji perbezaan perwarisan dermatoglifik di antara kaum-kaum utama di Malaysia dengan populasi Orang Asli yang menunjukkan pelbagai informasi bagi mengenalpasti mereka dan mencadangkan penggunaannya sebagai satu alat untuk mengesan sejarah latarbelakang sesuatu populasi. Kata kunci: Dermatoglifik; Orang Asli; Negrito

3 948 INTRODUCTION Dermatoglyphic is the study of dermal ridge patterns of fingertips, palms and soles of the feet. It was first proposed by Cummins and Midlo in The patterns of these ridges are genetically determined, almost certainly, by the interaction of several genes. Thus, the ridge patterns are distinctive and differentiable from one person to another as now it is widely used as one of the tools in criminal identification worldwide. While cases of developmental and chromosomal abnormalities have been shown to have its own stereotype patterns (Gutiérrez-Redomero et al. 2008, Karmakar et al. 2008) or follows special types of arrangement, pattern variations in normal individual represent genetic differences between members of separate population. Orang Asli population in Peninsular Malaysia are divided into three sub-tribe i.e. Senoi, Proto Malay and Negrito. Each of them consists of six sub-ethnic of its own. Being the smallest in population size and distinctively different in appearance to the other sub-tribe, documentation of multifactorially controlled dermatoglyphic patterns is necessary in this population since so many of human phenotypes exist, and it could prove they are genetically different from other Orang Asli and main population in Malaysia such as Malays, Chinese and Indians. MATERIALS AND METHOD Data Collection Sampling was done on locations as described in Table 1. Only print from ten fingers and both palms of normally develop hands are used as soles prints are excluded for hygienic reasons. Individuals that have at least three generation of same sub-ethnic or races marriage are included and those who are not are classified as unpure and omitted. Project briefing is given to each individuals and consent form is signed before prints are taken using simple blank ink and white paper method. Personal information and quick assessment of print is done before individuals are asked to wash their hands with soaps. Data Analysis Fingertip patterns were categorized on the number of triradius present. Arch (A), whorls (W), ulnar loop (UL) and radial loop (RL) were based on subsequent presentment or 0, 2, 1(loop head goes away from thumb) and 1 (loop head goes towards thumb). Total ridge for ten fingers (TRC) is the total counts of all ridges from ten fingers. From palms, four points were identified as a, b, c, d and t. a is triradius point at the bottom of second finger. B is on the bottom of middle finger, c is on the bottom of fourth finger and d is on the bottom of little finger. t is the triradius located on the lower part of the palms before the wrist. Thus, a-b ridge counts (a-b) is the number of ridge crossing a to b point and atd-angle (ATD) is measuring the angle size between a to t and a to d. Data were analyzed using Minitab statistical software version 14. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION All studied male and female individuals did not show any palm differences in fingertip ridge pattern and ridge counts; and palms variables i.e. a-b and ATD (paired t-test; p>0.05). This proves that the intrinsic early developmental process for both palm are similar and symmetrical. Thus, any physical abnormalities shown between both palms during development will affect these symmetrical characteristics. Gender differences in each sub-ethnic/races does show some significant differences (paired t-test; p<0.05) for certain variables and were summarized in Table 2. Table 1. Summary of sample size Sub-Ethnic Sampling Location Male Females Total Kintak Kg. Bukit Asu, Grik Perak 34 (74%) 12 (26%) 46 (11%) Lanoh Kg. Air Bah, Grik Perak 43 (55%) 35 (45%) 78 (19%) Kensiu Kg. Lubok Legong, Baling Kedah 21 (50%) 21 (50%) 42 (10%) Bateq Pos Lebir, Gua Musang Kelantan 39 (70%) 17 (30%) 56 (14%) Jahai Pos Sungai Rual, Jeli Kelantan 28 (47%) 31 (53%) 59 (14%) Malay UKM Bangi 20 (50%) 20 (50%) 40 (10%) Chinese UKM Bangi 20 (48%) 22 (52%) 42 (10%) Indian UKM Bangi 18 (38%) 30 (62%) 48 (12%) Total 223 (54%) 188 (46%) 411 (100%)

4 949 Table 2. List of variables that showed gender differences (paired t-test; p<0.05) Sub-ethnic Variables Highest Total value shown by gender Lanoh a-b and TRC male and male Bateq a-b female Chinese a-b and ATD female and male Indian TRC male However, TRC, a-b and atd-angle were the highest for Kensiu and were later on specially described to be in a group of its own by ANOVA and TUKEY test. The same test has put Chinese in a group of its own for atd-angle and only a-b is the informative variable that can be used to separate Orang Asli population from the other three main races. Frequency chart on the pattern of ten fingertips (labeled 1-5; Thumb is numbered as 1 and subsequently followed by the others) of two palms from each sub-ethnic showed some very interesting results (Figure 1). (a) (b) (c)

5 950 (e) (d) (f)

6 951 (g) (h) Figure 1. Graphs of frequency patterns for ten fingertips on right and left palms for (a) Malay, (b) Chinese, (c) Indian, (d) Jahai (e)kintak (f) Lanoh (g) Bateq and (h) Kensiu Whorls and ulnar loops were the most predominant pattern in all groups. The Malays and Chinese had similar distributional patterns for all fingers except the fifth finger. Indian and Jahai similarly mimic each other patterns except for the second digit. Meanwhile, Bateq had the reversal pattern distribution to them both i.e. Indian and Jahai. Kintak and Lanoh halfly mimics each other pattern (except the third finger) and Kensiu had its own unique pattern. According to Milicic and Vidovic (2005), Orang Asli proved to be an isolating population than other races. The Indian similarity to Jahai was shown before when studies on facial phenotypes were done by Khatijah (2006). With all similarities and differences shown by the sub-ethnics/ races, patterns, and pattern frequencies; all are specifically ethnic-related and can be used to differentiate between races or Orang Asli sub-ethnics. All subethnics/races have its own uniqueness and this study documents for the first time the comparison of dermatoglyphic traits between the Malaysian main races with Orang Asli population that show a list of informative variables that can be used to identify them as well as suggesting it s usage as a tool in tracing the etnohistorical background of populations. CONCLUSION In conclusion, all subethnics/races have their own uniqueness and this study documents for the first time the comparison of dermatoglyphic traits between the Malaysian main races with Orang Asli population that show a list of informative variables that can be used to identify them as well as suggesting it s usage as a tool in tracing the etnohistorical background of populations. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This study was approved under the project number FF given by UKM ethics committee that last until May We would like to thank MOSTI for financial support under ScienceFund grant SF0316 and all generous UKM staffs for donating clothes and other items to the Orang Asli. Our outmost appreciation goes to JHEOA officers and all Negritos Orang Asli involved in this study especially their Tok Batin and Tok Penghulu.

7 952 REFERENCES Cummins, H. & Midlo, C Finger Prints, Palms and Soles: An Introduction to Dermatoglyphic. New York: Dover Publication. Gutiérrez-Redomero, E., Alonso, C., Romero, E. & Galera, V Variability of Fingerprint Ridge Density in a Sample of Spanish Caucasians and Its Application to Sex Determination. Forensic Sci. Int. 180(1): Karmakar, B., Yakovenko, K. & Kobyliansky, E Quantitative Digital and Palmar Dermatoglyphics: Sexual Dimorphism in the Chuvashian Population of Russia. Homo 59(4): Milicic, J. & Vidovic, M Latent Structure of Dermatoglyphs in the Population of Selska Valley. Human Biology 56: Khatijah, M.A Kaum Negrito. Adakah Paras Rupa, Fenotip, dan Genotipnya Mempunyai Persamaan dengan Kaum Lain di Malaysia? BSc Thesis UKM. Endom Ismail*, Shairah Abdul Razak, Lieyana Selamat, Ravindran a/l Gurusamy, Hasmarini Zariman, Mohd Shahrizan Shahrudin, Farahnaz Amini, School of Bioscience and Biotechnology Faculty of Science and Technology Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia UKM Bangi, Selangor D.E. Malaysia Yosni Bakar, Shukor Md Nor & Mohamad Osman School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Bangi, Selangor D.E. Malaysia *Corresponding author; eismail@ukm.my Received: 27 November 2008 Accepted: 27 February 2009