Dermatoglyphic Variability in Armenian Fingertips and Palms: A Directional Asymmetry Approach to Identify Developmental Stress

The dermatoglyphic variability of the fingertips and palms of an Armenian sample was investigated. The sample consisted of 228 stressed and unstressed individuals. Prenatal stress due to severe physical and nutritional deprivation was not recorded in the developing dermal ridge system in the form of increased directional asymmetry or variation in ridge breadth. No intergenerational effect of stress on the dermal ridge system was identified. A new palmar variable, b-c ridge breadth, was developed and incorporated into the analysis.