Inheritance Pattern of Lip Print Among Haryanvi Population

Lip prints are the characteristic patterns of the fissures (sulci labiorum) in the form of elevations and depressions on the labial mucosa present in the zone of transition between the inner labial mucosa and the outer skin. The present study reveals the familial trends of lip print patterns in two different ethnic groups of Haryana and also establishes the usefulness of lip print patterns in identification of an individual. Type IV out of six patterns was found to be maximally inherited in the entire population and in both ethnic groups. It was concluded that neither two siblings resemble in their lip prints nor do they completely resemble any of the parents as in none of the cases, all 8 quadrants were found to be similar. Occurrence of lip prints is so variable that no factor (race, region, gender, inheritance) can be associated for the presence of any type of lip print. So, the study establishes the uniqueness of lip patterns, thus dictating its importance in forensic investigations.