Dermatoglyphic asymmetry in fetal alcohol syndrome.
The hypothesis was tested that prenatal alcohol exposure disrupts developmental homeostasis, as reflected in increased dermatoglyphic fluctuating asymmetry. Twenty-two patients with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and 9 with fetal alcohol effect (FAE) were matched for sex with 31 controls. On each patient, the right a-b dermal ridge count was subtracted from the left to obtain the asymmetry value. Group differences were tested by analysis of variance (ANOVA), and paired two-tailed t tests. Mean asymmetry increased from control (1.94) through FAE (2.78) to the FAS (4.00) group. Group differences were significant by ANOVA (p = 0.0066); only the FAS and control group differed by t test (p = 0.0025). The results support the hypothesis of increased decanalization of prenatal development in the presence of alcohol.
Wilber
E
E
Department of Anthropology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Newell-Morris
L
L
Streissguth
A P
AP
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D000431:Ethanol