Gender prediction from fingerprint ridge density among malaysian hokkien population for crime scene application

Abstract

Biometric technology is widely used for individual identification. Fingerprint is important physical evidence left by the perpetrators as visible and latent impression in the crime scenes. Person identification is the key concern to the forensic investigation. Fingerprint recognition is an accurate biometric system used globally not only in forensic investigation but also in real day-to-day life application. The objective of this present study wasto predict gender from fingerprint ridge density among Malaysian Hokkien population for crime scene application. The study included consented Hokkien people (Male:70, Female:91) living in Malaysia and acquired their fingerprints by inking technique using fingerprint ink, roller and plate following the standard procedure. From each fingerprint, counted the ridges diagonally on squares measuring 5 mm x 5mm area using magnifier from all ten fingers of all subjects. The number of ridges within 25 mm square reflected the ridge density. The data were analysed statistically by SPSS software and presented the findings in the form of tables and figures. Additionally, likelihood test was conducted to show the sexing potential. The result shows that the mean ridge density of male is significantly lower than female in all fingers of all subjects. The ridge density of left-hand fingers and the corresponding right fingers are not same, thus showing the bilateral asymmetry. The likely hood ratio analysis shows that ridge density of 10/25 mm2 is highly suggestive of females (p=1) but no observation was noticed for males. The study concluded that the ridge density study in an indicator for the prediction of gender among Malaysian Hokkien population and may be used during real crime scene investigation.