Occurrence of fingerprint patterns in the Moroccan population

Abstract

This paper focuses on the distribution of basic fingerprint patterns in the Moroccan population. The study was performed on a random sample of 2000 individuals (1000 females and 1000 males) selected independently of their ethnic group. The results obtained show a classic distribution represented by ulnar loops (∼58%), whorls (∼32%), radial loops (∼5%) and arches (∼5%). Statistical methods (likelihood ratio Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests) demonstrated significant differences between males and females: whorls and radial loops were found in slightly higher frequencies for male (34.75% and 5.81%, respectively) than for females (29.46% and 4.86%, respectively) but ulnar loops and arches were less predominant (55.30% vs. 60.40% and 4.14% vs. 5.28%, respectively). More differences were observed on the right hand for males compared with females, by higher frequencies of whorls on the ring finger (46.7% vs. 34.3%) and ulnar loops on the index finger (12.3% vs. 7%) as well as lower frequencies of radial loops on the ring (47.7% vs. 60.4%) and the index (39.2% vs. 50.2%) fingers. We can note also that for both sexes, the radial loops are quite rare as they were observed only on a maximum of three fingers.