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The Third Interdigital Patterns on the Palms of the General British Population, Mongoloid and Non-Mongoloid Mental Defectives

Galton Laboratory, University College, London

ABSTRACT

1. The variation of the third interdigital configuration was found to be continuous, though the intermediates were few.
   
2. Bilateral asymmetries were conspicuous in the area investigated, and more pronounced in males than in females.
   
3. Heritability of the third interdigital patterns was shown, but no recessivity in the character was demonstrated. The variation of the character could not be explained by any simple genetic hypothesis.
   
4. The mongoloid defectives did not differ significantly from the control population in the morphology of the patterns, but did so in the frequency of the character.
   
5. The parents of mongoloids did not differ significantly from the control population in the frequencies of the character, though they tended to have fewer OO's and more bilaterals than the controls. This tendency was accentuated in mongoloid offspring.
   
6. The total offspring, including mongoloids, did not deviate significantly from their parents, though the mongoloid offspring did so from their sibs and parents.
   
7. No significant differences were found in the control population and non-mongoloid defectives with regard to the morphology, asymmetries and frequency of the character in question.
   

Received for publication May 6, 1950.