History

Dermatoglyphics (from ancient Greek derma = “skin”, glyph = “carving”) is the scientific study of fingerprints. The term was coined by Dr. Harold Cummins; the father of American fingerprint analysis, even thought the process of fingerprint identification had already been in use for several hundred years.

Since 1920s, Dermatoglyphics has been studied in the medical field, especially in relation to genetically-liked diseases. The study has absolute scientific basis, with 200 years of research. It has been analyzed and proven with evidence in anthropology,genetics, medicine and statistics.

Research & Studies

* 1684

Dr. Nehemiah Grew (1641-1712)

Presented Finger Prints, Palms and Soles An Introduction To Dermatoglyphics to the Royal Society.

* 1685

Dr. Bidloo

Published an anatomical atlas, Anatomia Humani Corporis, with illustrations showing the human figure both in living attitudes and as dissected cadavers.

* 1686

Dr. Marcello Malphigi (1628-1694)

Noted in his treatise; ridges, spirals and loops in fingerprints.

* 1788

J.C.Mayer

J.C. Mayer was the first to write out basic tenets of fingerprints analysis and theorized that fingerprints were unique 1823.

 

* 1823

Dr. Joannes Evangelista Purkinje

Purkinje found that the patterns on one’s finger tips and the ridges and lines on one’s prints begin to from at around thirteenth week in the womb. He classified the papillary lines on the fingertips into types: arch, tented arch, ulnar loop, radial loop, peacock’s eye/compound, spiral whorl, elliptical whorl, circular whorl, and double loop/composite 

* 1832

Dr. Charles Bell (1774-1842)

Was one of the first physicians to combine the scientific study of neuroanatomy with clinical practice. He published The Hand: Its Mechanism and Vital Endowments as Evincing Design. 

* 1893

Dr. Francis Galton

Published his book, “Fingerprints”, estasblishing the individuality and permanence of fingerprints. The book included the first classification system for fingerprints: Arch, Loop, and Whorl.

* 1897

Harris Hawthorne Wilder

Was the first American to study dermatoglyphics. He invented the Main Line Index, studied thenar hypothenar eminences, zones II, III, IV.

* 1926

Dr. Harold Cummins & Dr. Charles Midlo Coined

The term “dermatoglyphics”. They showed that the hand contained significant dermatoglyphic configurations that would assist in the identification of mongolism in the new-born child.

* 1936

Dr. Harold Cummins & Dr. Charles Midlo

Also researched the embryo-genesis of skin ridge patterns and established that the fingerprints patterns actually develop in the womb and are fully formed by the fourth fetal month.

* 1957

Dr. Walker

Used the dermal configurations in the diagnosis of mongolism

* 1969

John J. Mulvihill, MD and David W. Smith, MD Published

The Genesis of Dermatoglyphics that provides the most up to date version of how fingerprints form.