Discrimination of fingerprints amongst Malay twins

Abstract

Fingerprints are the reproduction of ridges found on the tip of our fingers. In forensic investigation, a fingerprint is important physical evidence that can be used to link perpetrator to a crime. For identical twins, the development of their fingerprint start from the same DNA compared to fraternal twins. Fingerprints consist of three main patterns which are loop, whorl and arches which composed of minutiae that can be used to discriminate an individual. In this study, a total of 580 fingerprints were collected randomly from 29 pair of twins where 420 fingerprints obtained from identical twins while another 160 obtained from fraternal twins. Pattern analysis was done by using microscopic techniques and data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science 19 (SPSS 19) software. For minutiae distributions on thumb prints, the analysis was conducted by using Biometric Fingerprint Identification System (BIOFIS) system. On pattern analysis, 47.67% of identical twins have good correlation of fingerprints pattern with their sibling compared to fraternal twins (12.50%). For the minutiae distribution, it shows that the similarities of minutiae distribution on thumb prints for both identical and fraternal twins are not even reach 50% similar. The percentage of similarity on minutiae distribution is around 22.00%-46.07%. Based on this study, the fingerprints amongst twins can still be discriminated even identical twins possess a same DNA. The discrimination can be done due to the different amniotic flow and position of fetus in mother’s womb that affected the ridge pattern formation on fingerprint. However, highest likeness in fingerprints was found in identical twins compared to fraternal twins due to the genetic variation.