Epidermal ridge sweat pore density: A forensic approach to sex determination

Abstract

Determining the sex from an unidentified fingerprint recovered from a crime scene can assist in narrowing down the pool of potential suspects. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining sex using fingerprint epidermal ridge sweat pore density among the Indian population. For this purpose, plain prints from both the left and right thumbs were obtained from a total of 396 participants (191 males and 205 females), aged between 18 and 35 years, who were randomly selected for the study. Sweat pores were counted in a region of 3 × 3 mm². Data were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Product and Service Solutions) version 26 for Windows and Microsoft Office Excel 365. The likelihood ratio (LR) was calculated to obtain the probability inferences of sex based on the number of sweat pores. Analysis revealed that a fingerprint containing ≤ 45 pores/9 mm² is more likely to be of male origin while one containing ≥ 49 pores/9 mm² is more likely to be of female origin. Moreover, the difference in the number of pores was found to be statistically significant between the two biological sexes. The methodology employed in this study helps demarcate a uniform region in all the samples thereby eliminating variability due to pattern type and recurving ridges.