Estimation of variance for finger ridge counts: univariate and multivariate analyses

An investigation into the variance components of finger ridge-counts was conducted. Maximum likelihood estimation was used to estimate the parameters for each of the ten digits individually. A multivariate analysis consisting of the five digits as variables was also conducted. A sample of parents and offspring from Freiburg and Vienna including monozygotic and dizygotic twins was used. Both the larger of the radial and ulnar counts and the sum of the radial and ulnar counts were examined. Generally, both of these types of ridge counts provided similar information. The results demonstrated the primary influence of genes on the formation of finger ridges. It also appeared that dominance and a field effect play a role in the formation of finger ridges. The environmental component was not strongly patterned. Additive genetic and phenotypic allometry coefficients were very similar and suggested that the phenotypic data may be used in place of genetic data.