Cheiloscopy in Relation to Ethnicity, Gender and Monozygotic Twins in South-Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Present in the vermilion zone of human lip are normal lines, fissures and groves, the impression of which is called lip print. The purpose of this study was to investigate patterns of lip prints among the Urhobos and Binis; to verify if there is significant association between gender and lip print patterns; and to ascertain possible identical patterns of lip prints between uni-ovular twins. The study subjects were randomly sampled and consisted of 211 individuals (103 male and 108 females) aged between 12 to 34years, and who belong to the Urhobo (males=53, females=52) and Bini (males=50, females=46) ethnic groups in Southern Nigeria. 10 identical twins were also studied. Lip print of every subject was taken and visualized with the aid of a magnifying lens and the combinations grooves, fissures, lines or furrows with their lengths were noted and record. Type II was the dominant pattern in both ethnic groups. No two lip prints were the same. No significant association between lip print pattern and ethnicity. No significant association between lip print pattern and gender. All identical twins showed unidentical lip prints. The ethnicity and gender of an individual cannot be determined from lip prints. This study will be of relevance in forensic science, Anthropology and genetics.