Cheiloscopy for Sex Determination among Individuals Aged 17-25 Years

Background: External surface of the lip has many elevations and depressions forming a characteristic pattern called lip prints, examination of which is referred to as CHEILOSCOPY. The lip prints being uniform throughout the life and characteristics of person can be used to identify an individual. The present study was aimed to study lip print patterns between two genders. Objective: The objective of the study was to check for prevalence of lip print pattern and their variation between gender in 17-22 yrs old individuals. Materials and method: The study was conducted on 200 individuals (100-males, 100-females) aged 17-25yrs by applying an even coat of lipstick and obtaining the lip print on a paper or cellophane tape. The lip prints were then studied and analysed to check for the prevalence of lip print pattern and their variation between gender in 17-25 yrs old individuals. Results: Among 100 male subjects, branched groove(14.5%) was seen mostly while in the females there was presence of vertical groove(14%). INTRODUCTION Human identification is one of the most challenging subjects that man has been confronted with. Human identification is based on scientific principles, mainly involving dental records, fingerprints and DNA comparisons.(1,2)These serve as permanent records. The sophisticated molecular biology techniques are not always employed due to their expenses and lack of availability. Hence in those situations easier but reliable methods like lip prints can be employed. Lips are two highly sensitive mobile folds, composed of skin, muscles, glands and mucous membrane. They surround the oral orifice and form the anterior boundary of the oral cavity.(3) The wrinkles and grooves on the labial mucosa (called sulci labiorum) form a characteristic pattern called “lip prints,” the study of which is known as cheiloscopy.(4,5) Fischer was the first to describe it in 1902.(6) Use of lip prints for personal identification was first recommended in France by Locard.(7) In 1950, Synder also suggested the idea of using lip prints for identification.(8) Lip prints are considered unique to an individual and analogous to fingerprints.(9) The present study was aimed to study the lip prints of different individuals and find out the incidence of any particular pattern in the given age group in relation to specific gender. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sample selection: A total of 200 subjects, 100 males and 100 females who were randomly selected were included in the study. The subjects included in the study were ranging in age group between 17-25 years. The study was approved by the institutional review board. Inclusion criteria: 1. Subjects willing to participate. 2. Subjects between the age group of 17-25 years. 3. Subjects free from scars or lesions on the lips. Exclusion criteria: 1. Subjects not willing to participate. 2. Subjects with deformities of lips like cleft lip, ulcers, traumatic injury, inflammation or orthodontic treatment. 3. Subjects allergic to the lipstick used. Methodology: In the present study, we aimed to find out the variations in lip print patterns of 200 individuals. We tried to ascertain whether the lip prints hold the potential for determination of sex of the individual from their configuration. Even though the lines and furrows are present, both in upper and lower lip from one corner of mouth to the other corner, only the middle portion of the lip was taken into account. A dark coloured lipstick was applied with a single stroke, evenly on the vermilion border. The subjects were asked to rub both the lips to evenly spread the applied lipstick. After about two minutes, a lip impression was made on a strip of cellophane tape on the glued portion, which was then stuck on to a white bond paper. This served as permanent record. The impression was subsequently visualised with the use of a magnifying lens. Immediately after recording the lip prints, they were examined on the first look. If the print was not satisfactory another print was obtained from the Khushali K Shah et al /J. Pharm. Sci. & Res. Vol. 7(9), 2015, 731-735