Humans Born Without Fingerprints

Adermatoglyphia – The No Fingerprint

Adermatoglyphia is a rare genetic condition where individuals are born without any fingerprints, affecting less than a few dozen families worldwide.

Nicknamed `Immigration Delay Disease`

The disorder was dubbed this because people with it often face issues at borders or airports where fingerprint scans are used for identity checks.

It’s Caused by a Single Gene Mutation

Scientists traced this condition to a mutation in the SMARCAD1 gene, which specifically affects the development of fingerprint ridges.

No Impact on Health or Touch

Surprisingly, the condition doesn`t affect a person’s ability to feel, grip, or perform normal tasks—it’s purely a cosmetic and identification issue.

Most Cases Are Inherited in Families

Adermatoglyphia typically runs in families, passed down in an autosomal dominant pattern—meaning only one parent needs to carry the gene.

A Real Case: The Indian man Incident

A Swiss woman alerted scientists when she couldn’t pass immigration due to missing fingerprints. Her case led to the official discovery of adermatoglyphia.

Used in Research on Skin Development

Studying adermatoglyphia helps scientists better understand how fingerprints form in the womb and what genes shape human skin structures.