Dermatoglyphic analyses of 32 parents of Prader-Willi syndrome individuals

Dermatoglyphic analyses were performed on 22 mothers and 10 fathers of 24 PWS individuals (32 normal relatives). The frequency of fingertip patterns in the parents was the same as in their PWS offspring with respect to a decrease in ulnar loops, and this decrease was significant when compared with controls (P greater than 0.01). It was more marked in the fathers than in the mothers. The fingertip arches and whorls were more evenly redistributed in the parents than in their PWS offspring. The TFRC of the parents showed a positive correlation with the TFRC of the PWS offspring (P less than 0.01). These data indicate heritability of the fingertip dermatoglyphics. No heritable traits were found in the palmar dermatoglyphic configurations. The fathers showed palmar anomalies greater than in control males (P less than 0.05).