Lip print evaluation of Indian and Malaysian-Chinese subjects by manual and digital methods: a correlational study with gender and ethnicity

Abstract

Abstract Background Cheiloscopy is a reliable method of personal identification which may augment the established methods like dactylography, DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) profiling, and dental records. Aim This study aimed to determine the correlation of lip prints with ethnicity and gender of individuals in an attempt to bridge the gap between conventional manual methods and digital methods of cheiloscopy. Methods Lip prints of 300 gender-matched subjects of Indian and Malaysian-Chinese descents were collected and analyzed using the Suzuki K and Tsuchihashi Y classification system. The lip sizes were measured and lip print patterns were analyzed. The analysis was carried out using manual and computer-aided methods. A customized software for lip print analysis and validate it with the manual lip print analysis was developed. Results Independent sample t test showed a statistically significant difference between the width and length of the lips between males and females of the total population (p < 0.001). Pearson’s chi-square test showed no statistically significant difference between the Indian males and females in the width of the lower lip (p = 0.074). In the Malaysian-Chinese population, there was a statistically significant difference between males and females in the length of the upper lip (p = 0.032) and lower lip (p = 0.035). The type V grooves were predominant in the total study population (51.3%) followed by type III pattern (38.7%). The new customized software could not provide reliable results. Conclusions Lip sizes differed significantly among the Indian and Malaysian-Chinese subjects. There was no significant gender dimorphism in the distribution of lip print patterns. The results from manual and computer-aided methods were comparable.