Gungadin (A reaction to his article published in Volume 2, Number 2,

We read with interest a recently published article titled “Sex determination from fingerprint ridge density ” by Dr. Sudesh Gungadin on a vital issue of sex determination from fingerprint density 1. We wish to congratulate the author for his work on this issue. However, we would like seek few clarifications and contribute on this all important issue. The fingerprint pattern is an absolute proof of identity. No two fingers have ever been found to have identical prints. Owing to endless variations in fingerprints it has been speculated that there is one chance in sixty four thousand millions of two persons having identical fingerprints 2. The author studied the gender differences in fingerprint ridge density in south Indian population that in addition would help the investigating authorities by restricting their search to a particular gender. The study was conducted on subjects of south Indian origin 18-60 years and the results were found to be encouraging. It needs to be highlighted here that heath status of subjects is an important exclusion criteria in such study as fingerprint pattern and finger ridge density is know to alter in various diseases 2. On similar lines, stature and weight of an individual may have a role on finger ridge density, probably the reason why the authors recorded the height and weight of each subject 1. However since they have not commented on this aspect we would like to know if these factors had any effect on the finger print ridge density in their study. The authors counted number of ridges pe