SNP Shot: Genomic Insights

Adermatoglyphia is a rare condition characterized by the complete absence of fingerprints. This means individuals lack the typical skin ridges, known as dermatoglyphs, found on their fingers, toes, palms, and soles. These ridges form unique patterns (whorls, arches, and loops) that make up an individual's distinct fingerprint. Since fingerprints are commonly used for identification, people with adermatoglyphia face challenges, especially when fingerprinting is required for border control. This has led to the condition being referred to as "immigration delay disease."

Adermatoglyphia can occur in isolation, with no other associated health problems. However, in some cases, it's linked to other skin-related symptoms. These may include milia (small white bumps) on the face, blisters forming on the skin due to heat or friction, and a reduced number of sweat glands on the hands and feet. Furthermore, adermatoglyphia can be a symptom of several rare ectodermal dysplasia syndromes, such as Naegeli-Franceschetti-Jadassohn syndrome/dermatopathia pigmentosa reticularis, which affects the skin, hair, sweat glands, and teeth.

Inheritance:

The inheritance pattern of adermatoglyphia is autosomal dominant. This means that only one copy of a mutated SMARCAD1 gene is needed in each cell to cause the condition. Often, an individual with adermatoglyphia has inherited the mutated gene from one affected parent.