Gender Determined by a Fingerprint

According to Mr. Halamek and his colleagues,  gender can be determined by an individual's fingerprint.  This is based on the fact that a certain amino acid is found to have levels twice as high in the sweat of women.  Therefore, by testing the levels of residual amino acids in a fingerprint it is possible to conclude whether the person was male or female.  The researchers are in the process of developing additional fingerprint processing where certain criteria about a person can be determined, such as, whether they are young or old, male or female, and their specific ethnicity.  Fingerprint analysis has been used in forensics for years, but never like this.  The author does state however, that Mr. Halamek says these tests "could not replace DNA tests, which are reliable but also time-consuming and expensive".

The fact that women and men different in this little details such as a specific amino acid is quite amazing.  And if we can use these little genetic differences to help "solve" crimes etc, this can be a great step forward in forensics.  I think as the author said this shouldn't become something that replaces DNA tests, however it could become a quick preliminary test when quick information about a crime or someone in general is needed.  Especially if they make these tests simple kits that can be performed without needing advanced lab equipment and such.  

Original Article 

Missing Fingerprints

An article published in Science Magazine explains the phenomenon behind being born without fingerprints. This condition is called adermatoglyphia and there are only 4 documented cases thus far. The study at the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland, focused on a family in which nine people lacked fingerprints and the rest had normal fingerprints. DNA was taken from each family member and their genomes were compared. Scientists found 17 differences in the genome of the people who lacked fingerprints. They found sequence of genes that overlapped on the SMARCAD1 gene. When this gene was sequenced, mutations were found in all the fingerprintless individuals and not in the people with fingerprints. It is believed that the SMARCAD1 gene is responsible for the folding of skin cells in fetal development. There is still a decent amount of research that needs to be conducted to further prove that this gene mutation is present in all individuals without fingerprints. A geneticists from Indiana University School of Medicine, Terry Reed, seems to think there is more to the story than just a mutation of the SMARCAD1 gene.