title: Comparison of palatal rugae patterns in Kodava and Malayalee populations of South India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The palatal rugae pattern is unique to humans and may be specific to ethnic groups hence useful in population identification in forensic dentistry. The present study has been carried out to analyze the rugae pattern in two populations in and around Coorg, with objectives to analyze the palatal rugae pattern among Kodavas and Malayalees and to analyze the rugae pattern between sexes within each group.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample comprised two population groups in Coorg namely Kodavas and Malayalees, (n = 30) from each group, age-range of 18-30 years, equally distributed between the sexes. The rugae pattern were categorized as 'straight,' 'wavy,' 'curved' 'circular', and 'unification'. Pairwise comparison for two populations was done using non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. Mann-Whitney two-tailed test was used to test the difference between sexes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wavy pattern (100%) was highest among Kodavas. There was a significant difference between Malayalees and Kodavas for wavy (Mean = 5.867 and 8.400) and unification patterns (Mean = 2.267and 1.000). Significant difference between sexes for straight rugae pattern (Mean, males = 2.267, females = 1.200) among Malayalees was seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differences in rugae shape between the two populations (wavy and unification patterns) may be attributed to genetic factors and recent shared ancestry has probably rendered their differences to moderate levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Deeksha Kiran
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: Priyanka S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Machale
authors.forename: Suyog Chandrashekar
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Savant
authors.forename: Syed Ahmed
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Taqi
keywords: Forensic dentistry; palatal rugae; population study