1.Introduction

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Cheiloscopy is a method of personal identification based on the arrangement of lines or grooves appearing on the red part of the lips [1]. Lip prints are considered to be a new method that can adjudicate personal identification in criminal search and genetic studies [2]. Fingerprints and lip prints are permanent and inalterable over time unless there is a pathology which can affect the lips and fingers [3,4]. Cheiloscopy can also be used in gender and races determination[5]. Lip prints are considered to be important evidence which may be found on cigarettes butt, or drinking glass whether they are visible or not [6].

Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classifications was selected for this research because it was widely used classification in literature [4]. Figure 1 shows six types of lip prints based on its shape and type of grooves in Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classification[7]. Type I; linear vertical grooves across the lip, type I’; linear vertical grooves but disappear half-way of the lip, type II; branches grooves, type III; intersect grooves, type IV; the grooves are horizontal and finally type V; the grooves do not match into any of the types I-IV and cannot be distinguish morphologically [2].

Figure 1

The purpose of this study is to differentiate sex based on lip print pattern in Malay population using lipstick-cellophane tape technique. The lipstick-cellophane tape method was used in lifting the lip print, as an improvement of the lipstick paper-cardboard proposed by [8], which could not produce a clear lip print. The lip print identification process is faster and easier compared to DNA testing. Therefore, this research also suggests that lip print identification can be useful as an applicable technique in forensic practical applications.

2. Methodology

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The study comprised of 360 subjects consisting of 180 males and 180 females. They were selected conveniently among Malay population. Subjects with pathological condition such as syphilis, lymphangiomas, congenital lip fistula and Markel son-Rosenthal Syndrome were excluded from the study [9]. Individuals with scar, lip-piercing and dried lips were also excluded because their lip print patterns have changed. Consent were taken from all subjects. Non glossy, less greasy and red coloured lipstick was used for optimum lip print visibility[5]. Wet tissue was given to clean the lip’s subject for hygiene purpose. The lipstick (Silky Girl Siren Red Code 01) was applied uniformly on the subject’s lips using lip brush with one stroke to avoid smudging of the lip print. It was left to dry for 30 seconds. Transparent cellophane tape (44mm width of Sheng Long Tape) was used and pressed with adequate pressure on the subject’s lips. The subjects were asked to relax without stretching their lips to obtain the lip prints. The tape was then removed carefully and placed onto a plain A4 paper. This procedure was repeated three times without reapplying the lipstick. Paper with the subject’s lip prints was labeled with details (serial number and date). The visualised lip prints were classified based on the Suzuki and Tsuchihashi classification, using a magnifying glass. The lip print was divided equally into six sections: upper left (UL), upper middle (UM), upper right (UR), lower right (LR), lower middle (LM) and lower left (LL).Data was analysed using Statistical Package Social Sciences (SPSS) to determine the differences in lip print patterns between sexes.

Figure 2

3. Results And Discussion

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Table 1 showed the percentage distribution of Malay population in each section of the lip print. Type II was the most dominant type in upper left (43.9%), upper right (41.9%), lower right (51.9%) and lower left sections (60.0%) while type IV was dominant in upper middle (53.9%) and lower middle sections (41.9%).

Table 2 showed the percentage of distribution of lip print patterns in each section. For upper left section, type II was the dominant pattern in both males and females (28.9% and 58.9%) respectively. For upper middle section, the dominant lip print pattern of males (61.7%) and females (46.1%) was type IV. For upper right section, both males and females showed similar dominant lip print pattern of type II which constituted 35.6% and 48.3% respectively.

Table 1    Table 2

In lower right section, both males and females again showed similar dominant lip print pattern of type II which were 45.0% and 58.9% respectively. Both males and females illustrated type IV as the dominant pattern with 50.0% for males and 33.9% for females in lower middle section. For lower left section, both males and females showed type II lip print was the dominant type with 55.0% and 65.0% respectively. A statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Chi-square test was conducted to prove that there were significant differences of two nominal categories which are the sexes and types of grooves. All sections of lip print showed significant differences where p< 0.05.

Table 3 showed the highest percentage of lip print patterns in males and females. The highest percentage among all types of lip print patterns in males was type IV with 61.7% in upper middle section while type II was the highest percentage in females with 65.0% for lower left section.

Table 3

The results showed that there were significant differences in lip print of all sections between males and females, which supported by [10] in their project which involved six topography areas and[5,11,12]for four topography areas. However, Kinra et al.[13] showed no significant differences between males and females. This was probably because of the small sample size (20 males and 20 females) in their work.

Sonal et al. [12]noted that certain lip print pattern were ubiquitously found in male or female but for this current study, both males and females had similar dominant lip print pattern in each sections of the lips, as noted in[5,8,14,15]. The result showed that type II was the most dominant lip print patterns for both sex in four sections: upper left (28.9% for male and 58.9% for female), upper right (35.6% for male and 48.3% for female), lower right (45.0% for male and 58.9% for female) and lower left (55.0% for male and 65.0% for female). Type IV lip print patterns was dominant for upper middle section with 61.7% for male and 46.1% for female and lower middle section with 50.0% for male and 33.9% for female. For the current study, type II was the most dominant lip print patterns for Malays. This was different from Neo et al. [5] when they noted that type I’ was the dominant lip print pattern among Malays. Small sample size might contribute to the disagreement of the results. The current study had 360 samples while Neo et al. had only 88 samples.

4. Conclusion

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There were significant differences in sex based on the lip print patterns in all six sections of the lips in Malay population using lipstick-cellophane technique. Type II was the dominant lip print patterns for both sexes in Malays. This finding is hoped to give insight into identification process for solving criminal investigations which involves lip print pattern analysis. For future study, a stereo microscope can be used instead of magnifying glass for a clear visualisation of the lip print pattern.

References

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