A CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF FLUCTUATING DERMATOGLYPHIC ASYMMETRY AS A RISK MARKER FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY

In traits which are normally bilaterally symmetrical, asymmetries may arise as a result of genomic or environmental stress. Such asymmetries are called fluctuating asymmetry. Symmetry is known to be decreased i n a variety of disorders of developmental origin, and thus could poten tially serve as a risk marker for disorders with a developmental compo nent. We examined this idea by conducting a case-control study of 49 d evelopmentally delayed children and 51 controls. Using two dermatoglyp hic characters as a measure of symmetry (finger print concordance and A-B triradial ridge count difference), we found odds ratios of 2.32 (9 5% CI 0.65-3.17) and 2.11 (95% CI 0.57-3.27); depending on which chara cter was measured. These results suggest that fluctuating asymmetry ma y have potential as a risk marker for developmental disorders, and tha t this area of research warrants further research. (C) Wiley-Liss, Inc .