Usefulness of Digital Dermatoglyphics as Indicator of Academic Performance among a Group of Nigerian Students

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the dermatoglyphics correlates of academic performance among final year students of the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, University of Lagos. A total number of 81 students (31 Male: 50 Female) participated in the study. Digital dermatoglyphics parameters including print pattern and ridge count were obtained electronically with Secugen fingerprints sensor coupled with automated inkless fingerprint imaging software. The results revealed that loop was the most frequent fingerprint pattern with 65.9% occurrence while arch was the least frequent occurring with a frequency of 7.3%. Finger ridge count correlated negatively with Cummulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) implying that students with higher ridge count tended to have lower CGPA; however, the association was not significant (P>0.05). Fingerprint pattern on the left hand was a better indicator of academic performance when compared to the right hand. It was observed that left hand whorl was a positive indicator of academic performance in contrast to left hand loop, where higher frequency of whorl indicated lower academic performance. The implication of these results for proper guidance of student in our academic institutions is discussed