Born Without Fingerprints

Two rare genetic disorders leave those affected with no fingerprints. Scientists now believe they have discovered the cause behind the inherited condition.

Researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia report that defects in the protein keratin 14 could be responsible for Naegeli syndrome and dermatopathia pigmentosa reticularis (DPR).

Those afflicted often experience employment problems. Military, law enforcement, airlines, and other security sensitive sectors require fingerprints for standard background checks as a condition of employment.