Adermatoglyphia | |
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Other names | Immigration delay disease |
Adermatoglyphia is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner |
Adermatoglyphia is an extremely rare genetic disorder that prevents the development of fingerprints. Five extended families worldwide are known to be affected by this condition.[1][2]
The disorder was informally nicknamed "immigration delay disease" by Professor Peter Itin after his first patient had trouble traveling to the U.S. without any fingerprints for identification.[3]
In 2007 an isolated finding was published regarding the description of a person from Switzerland who lacked fingerprints.[4] The phenotype was mapped to chromosome 4q22. In the splice-site of a 3' exon of the gene for SMARCAD1-helicase, a point mutation was detected. It results in a shortened form of the skin-specific protein.[5] The heterozygous expression of the mutation suggests an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance.[6] The Swiss patient, and eight of her relatives who also had the mutation, all had "flat finger pads and a reduced number of sweat glands in the hands".[7]
Other conditions can cause a lack of fingerprints, but unlike them, adermatoglyphia has no side effects.[8]
The medical condition and the 2007 Swiss medical case are both mentioned in the episode titled "She Was Murdered Twice" of the police drama television series Death in Paradise.[9]
DNA replication |
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DNA repair |
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