| A fingerprint characteristic associated with the early prenatal environment. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 17929242 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Fingerprints and fingertip ridge counts (RCs) have a significant genetic component. However, they also reflect the nongenetic environment of early pregnancy, an important time window for tissue differentiation and organogenesis. Fingerprints are permanently configured before the 20th week of gestation, and each fingertip's RC is related to the growth and regression of its early fetal volar pads. Rostral and caudal aspects of the embryonic limb bud have different relations to somite segments and to morphogen-activator functions. We hypothesized, therefore, that early fetal circumstances would be associated with a contrast in RCs between the thumb (digit 1) and little finger (digit 5). We obtained RCs from the fingerprints of a sample of 658 Dutch adults identified through prenatal and delivery records of Dutch urban births occurring during 1943-1947, an historical era that included months of wartime disruption with a winter famine. We calculated the mean of left- and right-hand RC differences between digits 1 and 5 (Md15). The Md15 fluctuated in relation to the calendar season of the mother's last menstrual period, but only if the gestation occurred outside of the wartime disruption interval. If the gestation occurred during the disruption interval, the Md15 seasonal fluctuation was not evident. This finding suggests that parental environmental factors may influence the fingerprints of the offspring. Fingerprint RC differences observed in postnatal life may be useful in the study of metabolic or anatomic programming related to the early prenatal environment. |
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Authors:
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Henry S Kahn; Mariaelisa Graff; Aryeh D Stein; Patricia A Zybert; Ian W McKeague; L H Lumey |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural |
Journal Detail:
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Title: American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council Volume: 20 ISSN: 1042-0533 ISO Abbreviation: Am. J. Hum. Biol. Publication Date: 2008 Jan-Feb |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2007-12-11 Completed Date: 2008-01-29 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8915029 Medline TA: Am J Hum Biol Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 59-65 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Division of Diabetes Translation, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA. hkahn@cdc.gov |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Cohort Studies Dermatoglyphics* Female Fetal Development / physiology* Humans Middle Aged Netherlands Pregnancy Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects Starvation / physiopathology* Urban Renewal World War II |
| Grant Support | |
ID/Acronym/Agency:
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R01 HL067914/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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