Mutation causes lack of fingerprints
A team of Scientists say they have identified a rare genetic mutation that can cause adermatoglyphia or lack of fingerprints in some people.
The genetic analysis of a Swiss family, many of whom have no fingerprints showed that the rare condition is caused by a mutation in a gene related to skin called SMARCAD1.
The findings, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics suggested that those with adermatoglyphia carried a mutated and shorter version of SMARCAD1 gene compared to their relatives who normally had fingerprints.
"Taken together, our findings implicate a skin-specific version of SMARCAD1 in the regulation of fingerprint development," said the lead author Eli Sprecher.
People with adermatoglyphia are born without fingerprints (dermatoglyphs) and lines that are normally present on palms, toes and the sole. They also lack the usual number of sweat glands.
"We know that fingerprints are fully formed by 24 weeks after fertilization and do not undergo any modification throughout life," Sprecher said." However, the factors underlying the formation and pattern of fingerprints during embryonic development are largely unknown."
The researchers say that their finding not only helps in studying the formation of fingerprints but also brings more knowledge about unknown aspects of human development and biology.
"Although little is known about the function of full-length SMARCAD1 and virtually nothing regarding the physiological role of the skin-specific version of the gene, it is tempting to speculate that SMARCAD1 in the skin may target genes involved in dermatoglyph and sweat gland development, two structures jointly affected in the present family," Sprecher added.
Source: presstv.ir
