Dermatoglyphs in human polyploidy.

Chromosomal aberration is frequently accom- panied by distortion of the dermatoglyphic patterns on hands and feet. It is therefore to be expected that triploids and tetraploids, whether complete or mosaic, will be likely to show peculiarities. Abnormal dermatoglyphs are inevitable if there is growth disturbance which affects the extremities. It is re- markable, on the whole, how relatively slight are the morphological changes of pattern which have been found in association with human polyploidy as com- pared with those found, for example, in trisomics. One feature that occurs fairly consistently is some degree of webbing of fingers and the disturbances of ridge formation exhibited are mainly consequences of this peculiarity.