A Study of External Ear Morphological Variation in Central Indian Population for Genealogical Purposes

Abstract

The study aims to determine the inheritance pattern of different morphological features of the external ear in three generations from five states of India to assess the similarities between P1, F1, and F2 generations. The research involved 62 families, each with 124 grandparents P1 (62 males and 62 females), 124 parents F1 (62 males and 62 females), and 82 F2 generations (53 males and 29 females), a total of 330 samples, ranging in age from 1 to 75 years. All the samples were collected from five different states of India: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Maharashtra. The external ear is distinct in terms of shape, size, and orientation. Its morphological variation aids in the determination of genetic inheritance. Fisher exact test was performed to assess the inter-generation association of morphological characteristics of the ear. Similar to other body characteristics, it is established that the auricle shape, lobule shape, and ear lobule attachment are also inherited. The associations of ear traits in three generations were studied, and the results might be used in forensic identification.

Keywords

• forensic science
• external ear
• morphological variation
• morphological features
• genetic inheritance
• paternity and maternity