A case-control study of fluctuating dermatoglyphic asymmetry as a risk marker for developmental delay

✍ Scribed by Naugler, Christopher T.; Ludman, Mark D.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 421 KB
• Volume: 66
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0148-7299
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-8628(19961202)66:1<11::aid-ajmg3>3.0.co;2-z

✦ Synopsis

In traits which are normally bilaterally symmetrical, asymmetries may arise as a result of genomic or environmental stress. Such asymmetries are called fluctuating asymmetry. Symmetry is known to be decreased in a variety of disorders of developmental origin, and thus could potentially serve as a risk marker for disorders with a developmental component. We examined this idea by conducting a case-control study of 49 developmentally delayed children and 51 controls. Using two dermatoglyphic characters as a measure of symmetry (finger print concordance and A-B triradial ridge count difference), we found odds ratios of 2.32 (95% CI 0.65-3.17) and 2.11 (95% CI 0.57-3.27); depending on which character was measured. These results suggest that fluctuating asymmetry may have potential as a risk marker for developmental disorders, and that this area of research warrants further research.