ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 7

Comparison of Fingernail Striation Patterns in Identical Twins
Sirignano, A
Graduate students and Professor, The George Washington University, D.C.

DeGaetano, DH
Coordinator, Division of Forensic Sciences, Scientific Laboratories, Inc., VA

Kempton, JB
Graduate students and Professor, The George Washington University, D.C.

Yates, PJ
Cellmark Diagnostics, MD

Rowe, WF
Graduate students and Professor, The George Washington University, D.C.

(Received 25 November 1991; accepted 10 February 1992)

Abstract

The fingernail ridge patterns of a pair of identical twins were compared to each other, their parents, and an unrelated subject. The patterns of the twin's nails showed regions of strong similarity but were distinguishable from one another. Fewer similarities were found when comparing the nails to those of the parents and the unrelated control. The twins were shown to be monozygotic by means of DNA profiling. This therefore represents the first demonstration of unique fingernail ridge patterns in subjects shown conclusively to be identical twins. When the fingernail ridge patterns were examined with a scanning electron microscope, the backscattered electron (BEI) images were found to have superior contrast when compared to the secondary electron (SEI) images.

Keywords:
forensic science, fingernail striation patterns, identical twins

Paper ID: JFS13344J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13344J
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