Correlation of lip patterns, gender, and blood group in North Kerala population: A study of over 800 individuals

Abstract

Context:With the ever-changing field of criminal justice, the constant revision of criteria for acceptable evidence by the judiciary poses new challenges in forensic investigation. The applicability of cheiloscopy in individual identification is an area of extensive research in recent years.Objectives:The aim of the present study was to determine the distribution of different lip print patterns in North Kerala population, to assess any sexual dimorphism in lip patterns, and to correlate lip print patterns with ABO and Rh blood groups.Materials and Methods:A total of 858 students, 471 males and 387 females, from different colleges in the district of Kozhikode in North Kerala were included in the study. Lip prints were obtained using lipstick and cello tape and transferred onto white papers. Blood group of the participants was noted.Results:The most predominant pattern observed was Type I (48.3%), followed by Type II, Type III, Type IV, Type I', and Type V. We also observed that the lower lip exhibited an overwhelming predominance of Type I pattern in the North Kerala population while the upper lip showed a more even distribution. Gender-wise difference was observed with Type II being the most common in males and Type IV being the predominant pattern in females. No correlation was obtained between the blood groups and lip patterns.Conclusion:The potential usefulness of cheiloscopy in forensic medicine still remains largely untapped and under-recognized. Similar studies in different populations with large sample sizes will allow a more definite picture of lip print patterns to emerge.

A Study of Cheiloscopic Pattern in Relation to Gender and Blood Groups in a Tertiary Care Hospital at Chennai

“…This was followed by Type III (26.4%), Type I (23.5%), Type IV (14.5%), Type I' (5.5%), and Type V (1.75%). This was partially in accordance to a study conducted in North Kerala by Basheer et al [2] On the contrary, Verghese et al in their study on the Kerala population found Type IV to be the most common pattern . [6] Gender -In this study, it was found that no two individuals had similar type of lip prints, thus demonstrating the uniqueness of lip prints.…”

“…Basheer S et al, in their study found that Type II was the most common lip print type in males and Type IV was the most common in females. [2] The Lower lip print can help in gender determination (P<0.001) while the upper lip showed a more or less similar pattern distribution among males and females. This was similar to a study conducted by authors in a South Indian city .…”

“…Lip grooves are formed in the 6th week of intrauterine life and remain unchanged throughout one's life. [1,2] The lip prints of parents and children and those of siblings have shown some similarities. It has the unique ability of reverting to its original pattern following minor trauma, inflammation and infections such as herpes.…”

The weak evidence of lip print analysis for sexual dimorphism in forensic dentistry: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis

“…Finally, a total of 72 studies were selected for qualitative analysis 1 , 2 , 4 – 6 , 10 – 15 , 24 – 84 . Quantitative analysis of the accuracy of cheiloscopy for sexual dimorphism included seven studies 1 , 5 , 25 , 48 , 49 , 54 , 80 , and 17 studies 10 , 11 , 14 , 28 , 30 , 32 , 34 , 36 , 38 , 42 , 43 , 51 , 56 , 60 , 61 , 63 , 82 were considered in the analyses of the prevalence of lip print patterns (Fig. 1 ).…”

“…One study 83 did not report which technique was used. In general, twenty-four studies (33%) 12 , 14 , 24 , 26 , 28 , 31 , 35 , 42 – 44 , 47 , 51 , 53 – 55 , 57 , 63 , 66 , 67 , 74 – 76 , 82 did not find evidence of difference of lip print patterns between males and females, while 67% 1 , 2 , 4 – 6 , 10 , 11 , 13 , 15 , 25 , 27 , 29 , 31 – 34 , 36 – 41 , 45 , 46 , 48 – 50 , 52 , 56 , 58 – 62 , 64 , 65 , 68 – 73 , 77 – 81 , 83 , 84 detected differences.…”