Surnames, geographic altitude, and digital dermatoglyphics in a male population from the province of Jujuy (Argentina)

DIPIERRI, JE; GUTIÉRREZ-REDOMERO, E; ALONSO-RODRÍGUEZ, C; ALFARO, E; DEMARCHI, D; RIVALDERÍA, N

HOMO Journal of Comparative Human Biology

ELSEVIER

Año: 2014

0018-442X

The possible association between finger dermatoglyphic patternsand altitude and surname distribution was analyzed in a sam-ple of adult males from the province of Jujuy, Argentina. We alsoinvestigated the biological affinity of this population with otherSouth American natives and admixed populations. Fingerprintswere obtained from 996 healthy men, aged 18?20 years, from thehighlands (HL: 2500 m, Puna and Quebrada) and lowlands (LL: Valleand Selvas). Surnames were classified into native/autochthonous(A) or foreign (F), resulting in three surname classes: FF, whenboth paternal and maternal surnames were of foreign origin; FA,when one surname was foreign and the other was native; and AA,when both surnames were native. Frequencies of finger dermato-glyphic patterns ? arches (A), radial loops (RL), ulnar loops (UL),and whorls (W) ? were determined for each digit in relation togeographic location, altitude, and surname origin, resulting in thefollowing categories: HL-FF, HL-FA, HL-AA, LL-FF, LL-FA, and LL-AA.The statistical analyses showed that UL and RL were more commonin individuals of HL origin, whereas W and A were more frequentin the LL males (p < 0.05). Significant associations were observedbetween finger dermatoglyphic patterns and surname origin whengeographic altitude was considered. In the HL group, UL was asso-ciated with AA and FA; in the LL group, the presence of A wasassociated with FF and FA. The distribution of dermatoglyphic pat-terns shows that the population of Jujuy belongs to the Andeangene pool and that it has undergone differential levels of admixturerelated to altitude.