Über die Vererbung der Fingerlängenproportion
SUMMARYThe evaluation of the sketches of the hands of 746 consanguineous persons of different ages and sexes as well as the examinations of 120 radiograms of the hands of non-related adults have shown the following results:1) Relatives (Brothers and sisters, mothers and children, parents and children) resemble each other with regard to the respective finger-lengths and the proportions of these between right and left hand more than non-relatives do.2) The respective finger-length is organized anatomically by the longitudinal variations of all elements of the second and forth rays and modified by the Carpalia and the longitudinal proportion of Radius and Ulna. We can regard the most extensive variations of growth at the second ray in men and at the forth ray in women. In the same manner the lateral differences between the right and the left hand can be explained for both sexes mainly by the longitudinal differences of the second rays.3) In reference to these anatomical conditions a genetical hypothesis about a transmission of the relative finger-length is developped and its usefulnes for the diagnosis of paternity comes to discussion.