Cheiloscopic Study among Monozygotic Twins, Non-Twin Brothers and Non-Relative Individuals

Abstract This study aimed to investigate cheiloscopic patterns among monozygotic twins (MT), non-twin siblings (NTS) and unrelated individuals (UI). The sample consisted of 20 pairs of monozygotic twins (G1), 20 pairs of non-twin siblings (G2) and 20 pairs of unrelated individuals (G3). Lip thickness, commissures and grooves were evaluated and the latter were classified as: I - clear-cut vertical grooves; I’ - incomplete vertical grooves; II - branched grooves; III - intersecting; IV - reticular grooves and V - undetermined, in 8 labial regions (sub-quadrants). The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with a 5% significance level. Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC) and Kappa coefficient, with a 95% confidence interval, were employed to check for agreement rates between G1, G2 and G3 pairs. There was a weak correlation for lip thickness (<0.90) in the total group, with higher values in G1 (CCC from 0.25 to 0.83 and from 0.34 to 0.86, upper and lower lips, respectively), followed by G2 (CCC from -0.03 to 0.70 and from -0.21 to 0.62, upper and lower lips, respectively) and G3 (CCC from -0.25 to 0.56 and from -0.38 to 0.34, upper and lower lips, respectively). With regard to labial commissures, Kappa statistic values were found to be 1.00 for G1, 0.45 for G2 and -0.24 for G3. As for the main groove pattern by sub-quadrant, Kappa values ranged from 0.48 to 0.87 for G1, from 0.17 to 0.59 for G2, and from -0.18 to 0.19 for G3. Monozygotic twins presented a relevant percentage of cheiloscopic agreements. Similarities were also found among NTS, while UI showed greater differences compared to their pairs, highlighting the influence of hereditary relationships on inherited cheiloscopic features.