Researchers finger defective identity gene

Adermatoglyphia causes people to be born without fingerprints.

The disorder is nicknamed “immigration delay disease” because affected individuals have such trouble entering countries that demand fingerprints.

The scientists studied a large Swiss family, many of whom have the condition where the absence of fingerprints is accompanied by fewer sweat glands.

DNA analysis of both affected and non-affected members of the family highlighted a mutation in the SMARCAD1 gene in those with the condition.

Their discovery was reported in this week’s American Journal of Human Genetics.