Digit ratio (2D:4D): Is it possible to use it for sex determination in the study of human skeletal remains?

• Published in: American journal of human biology 2016-07, Vol.28 (4), p.591-593
• Main Authors: Bakholdina, Varvara Yu, Movsesian, Alla A., Sineva, Irina M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Finger Phalanges - anatomy & histology; Germany; Humans; Male; Metacarpal Bones - anatomy & histology; Middle Aged; Russia; Sex Determination by Skeleton - methods
• ISSN: 1042-0533; 1520-6300
• DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22824

Objectives Sexual dimorphism in the relative length of the second‐to‐fourth digits (the digit ratio, or 2D:4D) in humans has been reported in many studies. The aim of our study was to ascertain possibility of using the 2D:4D ratio as an additional marker for sex determination in the study of human skeletal remains. Methods We have studied 2D:4D ratios obtained from measurements of finger phalanges and metacarpal bones in Russian (45 adult males and 26 adult females) and German (58 adult males and 29 adult females) skeletal series. Results The difference in 2D:4D ratio between the male and female subsamples in both skeletal series was not statistically significant. Analysis of variance revealed that the 2D:4D ratios in our sample varied more by ethnicity than by the sexual identity of the skeletal material. Conclusion Our results suggest that the 2D:4D ratio cannot be used as an appropriate trait for the sex determination of human skeletal remains. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:591–593, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.