Variation in palmar quantitative dermatoglyphics among Argentinian aboriginal populations

This paper examines the pattern and extent of genetic variation within and between five Argentinian aboriginal populations through the analysis of qua ntitative palmar dermatoglyphics. Small bilateral asymmetry in interdigital ! ridge-counts and atd angle, and low sexual dimorphism for all the variabl es studied were found among all the studied populations. In contrast, uni- and multi-variate intergroup comparisons reveal highly significant interpop ulation variation. Cluster analysis of the Mahalanobis' distances portrays the close resemblance between males and females of each population and reve als a clear separation of the Araucano, from the Patagonia, and the tribes from the Gran Chaco. The Relethford-Blangero model for assessing the effect s of differential external gene flow suggests a greater than the average ad mixture from outside the region for the Araucano, which is expected given e vidence from traditional genetic markers. A minimum estimate of FST = 0.079 confirms the substantial genetic differentiation undergone by he indigenou s Argentinian populations.