A study of dermatoglyphic variation in the human population of the north Pennine dales

Abstract

Following an introductory chapter on the geographical framework and historical outline of the region, problems and the details of sampling and geographical analysis are contained in Chapters 2 and 3 respectively.Chapter 4 comprises a detailed review of dermal nomenclatures to supplement recommendations for methodological consistency given in Dyn 1977 4, 1-60. Necessary rulings have been amended, especially for the mainlines, to improve interrater accuracy in the scoring of attributes. Chapter 5 concerns details of data management specific to the survey. Chapter 6 deals with the genetics of digital and palmar dermatoglyphics. In Chapters 7 and 8 interrelationships between 152 dermal variables are investigated using bivariate and multivariate procedures. Other matters considered are measurement levels, frequency distributions and transformations, bilateral asymmetry and sex differences. Observations are made on the behaviour of different correlation coefficients. In Chapter 8, factoring of the unilateral digital and unilateral maximal digital ridge counts has been effected and preliminary results reported for the palmar variables. Multiple regression analysis has been carried out on the palmar ridge couits and on the palmar mainlines, in the latter case, in an attempt to demonstrate the possible redundancy of those attributes. Results of the spatial study are contained in Chapters 9 and 10. In Chapter 9, the multiplicity of ways for presenting univariate results has been disclosed, the importance of mapping procedures emphasized and a choropleth design described to locate class intervals for a limited number of regions. In Chapter 10 different distance coefficients, variable subsets and display procedures have been used to disclose population relationships and order in rectangular migration matrices. Multiple regression analyses have been effected between the interregional biological distances and various predictors, and a method described to reveal the effects of sampling error. Concluding matters are dealt with in Chapter 11.