Comparison of Fingernail Striation Patterns in Identical Twins
Kempton, JB
Graduate students and Professor, respectively, Department of Forensic Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC.

Sirignano, A
Graduate students and Professor, respectively, Department of Forensic Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC.

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

Yates, PJ
Cellmark Diagnostics, Germantown, MD.

Rowe, WF
Graduate students and Professor, respectively, Department of Forensic Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC.


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 twins' 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:
fingernail striation patterns, fingernails, forensic science, identical twins, patterns, striations

Paper ID: JFS376921534

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Author Kempton JB, Sirignano A, DeGaetano DH, Yates PJ, Rowe WF Title Comparison of Fingernail Striation Patterns in Identical Twins Symposium , Committee on