Dermatoglyphics of the Pandamatenga Bush-Bantu Hybrids

Abstract

Dermatoglyphic patterns of the Bush-Bantu hybrids of Pandamatenga, Botswana, reveal affinities of the group to Bushmen and, perhaps by virtue of this relationship, Pygmies, thus confirming the serogenetical findings on this group. In certain respects these hybrids take an intermediate position between Northern Bushmen on the one hand, and Southern plus Central Bushmen on the other. Pattern frequency in the thenar/first interdigital space of the palm is distinctly different to that in Bushmen, a finding which is compatible with a simple mode of inheritance for this trait. Affinity with the Mongoloid race is suggested by some of the pattern traits. Finger ridge counts reveal certain differences between the Pandamatenga hybrids and Caucasoids. The mean total count is lower in the African group than in the British sample with which it is compared. The difference is most marked in males. The sexual dimorphism which characterises the British sample (in which the mean total ridge count is significantly higher in males than in females) is not present in the hybrids. This may be related to a general trend to feminization and paedomorphism in the Bushmen. The possibility of sex chromosomal uniqueness to account for this trend warrants consideration.