Genetical distance and dermatoglyphic characters. II. Intrapopulation distance coefficients.

This paper attempts to evaluate the dermatoglyphic (genetical) distance between two Polish population samples in relation to the intrapopulation distance coefficients estimated within each sample. All the coefficients have been based, in turn, on frequencies of fingertip, palmar and sole pattern elements, separately and for all characters combined. The results of a comparison of various combinations of dermatoglyphic characters with one another in respect of all successive values of a distance coefficient indicate that, if populations of mostly related individuals were compared, sole patterns have been the most efficient ones in differentiating between the two normal population samples. The values of inter- and intrapopulation distance coefficients obtained from samples consisting mostly of family units have been compared with those estimated in samples of non-related individuals. The limitations and difficulties in the interpretation of the values of a distance coefficient related both to the material used and statistical procedures are discussed.