Human individualisation for monozygotic twins using ear and ear print pattern / Nurulfarhana Zulkifli

Individualisation of monozygotic twin based on ear pattern and ear print is a challenging task since they hold the closest-genetic based relationship. This study was designed to establish the uniqueness and individual characteristic of ear pattern and ear print between monozygotic twins. Our study was conducted based on large monozygotic twin data that contained 95 pairs of monozygotic twins with data from right and left ear of each monozygotic twin. Monozygotic twins were selected randomly throughout Malaysia, with age range between 7 to 31 years old. Measurements for ear pattern were taken using digital calliper with the resolution of 0.01mm. Results showed that the mean differences of outer ear landmarks measurement between pairs of monozygotic twins were small which is between (M=0.77, SD=0.59) and (M=2.32, SD=2.20). There were no significant differences between ears of monozygotic twins for almost all dimensions between pair of monozygotic twin and between inter-landmarks which is a set of points that correspond to an anatomical position on ear that is comparable among respondents. MANOVA analysis showed that out of 95 pairs of monozygotic twins, only 4 pairs showed significant different (p<0.05) of ear pattern between their twin pairs. Analysis of ear print revealed that differences in Euclidean distance for all measurements of ear print between each pair of monozygotic twins were less than 9.38%. This study is a step toward scientific analysis of ear as a supportive tool for personal identification but it is proved that this tool could not be applied on monozygotic twins.