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Open AccessResearch Article
Forensic
Research
Khan et al., J Forensic Res 2014, 5:2
http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2157-7145.1000215
Volume 5 • Issue 2 • 1000215
J Forensic Res
ISSN: 2157-7145 JFR, an open access journal
Human Hair Analysis among Four Different Castes Having Potential
Application in Forensic Investigation
Amna Khan, Maryam J*, Tahir Yaqub and Nadeem A
Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
*Corresponding author: Maryam Javed, University of veterinary & animal
sciences, Institute of biochemistry & biotechnology out fall roal sheikh abdul qadir
jillani road out fall roal Lahore, Punjab 54000, Pakistan, Tel: 923474446413;
E-mail: maryam.javed@uvas.edu.pk
Received November 05, 2013; Accepted January 07, 2014; Published January
10, 2014
Citation: Khan A, Maryam J, Yaqub T, Nadeem A (2014) Human Hair Analysis
among Four Different Castes Having Potential Application in Forensic Investigation.
J Forensic Res 5: 215. doi:10.4172/2157-7145.1000215
Copyright: © 2014 Khan A, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and
source are credited.
Keywords: Forensic science; Hair; Cuticle thickness; Cuticle inner
margin; Ovoid bodies; Awan; Butt; Gujar; Rajput
Introduction
Humanhairanalysisisofsubstantialimportanceinforensicsciences
field. Hair is most commonly found evidence on crime scene and
needs prime attention in solving a crime situation [1-8]. Hair analysis
is conducted at different levels as gross, microscopic and molecular
based. In gross analysis, visual characteristics of hair are observed as
color, length, texture and type. In microscopic analysis, more detailed
hair characteristics are noticed that finally help to establish a correlation
between a suspect and a crime scene or a suspect and a victim [3,4].
But this cannot be a substitution for the DNA based molecular analysis
that is ultimately the most valuable evidence. Microscopic analysis of
human hair has been done previously in different regions of the world
and significant differences have been noticed across species [6-19].
Some researchers have found distinguishable feature even in same
specie as human that are present in different regions of the world [2,5].
On the basis of inter-race differences, human hairs are characterized
in three main groups, Caucasian, Negroid, or Mongoloid [7,9-12]. The
designation of these racial groups is based upon an evaluation of the
microscopic characteristics present in the hair. Keeping in view the
physical differences in individual hairs, present study was planned
to find such differences in the individuals of different castes in Asian
region. For this purpose, four castes of Pakistan were selected as
Awan, Butt, Gujjar and Rajput. Because of high degree of endogamy,
the individuals in one caste retain much of the phenotypic features
including hairs characteristics as well.
For the purpose of analysis, three parameters were selected that
were cuticle thickness, inner cuticle margin and ovoid bodies. Cuticular
layer comprises of various types of scales that envelop the hair shaft
completely.Theseincludecoronalwhichmeanscrowntype,spinousthat
is petal-like form and imbricate meaning flattened type. The possible
arrangements and variants of such forms are present among different
species and even in persons belonging to different regions [3]. Ovoid
bodies are the part of cortex. Ovoid bodies are highly impenetrable,
defined margins, oval structure and present in non-dispersive form.
Analysis was done using light microscope. Hair samples from the
representatives of respective castes were collected and after analysis, no
significant differences were noted for cuticle thickness and inner cuticle
margins but significant differences were noted in ovoid bodies among
the hairs of different castes.
Material and Methods
Sampling strategy
For the purpose of analysis four castes (Awan, Gujjar, Rajput and
Butt) were selected. Hair samples were collected from different districts
of Punjab. Hair samples of Awan caste were collected from Lahore
and Faisalabad. Gujjar caste samples were gathered from Gujrat and
Faisalabad. Sampling of caste Rajput was done from Lahore and hair
samples of Butt castes were collected from Lahore and Sialkot. It was
a population based study. Four types of castes (Awan, Butt, Gujjar and
Rajput) were selected for hair collection. Sixty samples were collected
from each caste. Thirty samples from males and thirty from females of
each caste were collected.
Sample collection
Head hairs were collected from various castes to analyze the
structural similarity or differences from each other. 15-20 hairs per
individual were collected. Samples were plucked from different areas of
head using tweezers. Some were taken from right side; some from left
side and in similar pattern hair from front and back side of head were
plucked and packed in separate envelopes. All envelopes were labeled
and then sealed with transparent tape.
Sample preparation
For purpose of analysis compound microscope was being used.
Abstract
Hair is the most frequently found trace evidence in the crime cases. It assists in establishing a triangular relation
between a crime scene, a victim and a criminal. Morphology of hair can be helpful in forensic investigations to
distinguish hair from one race to another. In this context for the purpose of analysis, cuticle inner margin (distinct or
not distinct), cuticle thickness and ovoid bodies (present or absent) were considered. Four different castes (Awan,
Butt, Gujjar and Rajput) were selected to analyze the structural similarity and differences from each other. Compound
microscope was used for purpose of observation. There was no significant gender based difference among all
castes. But significant differences were found among individuals of different castes. The purpose of this study was to
develop a data base by analyzing the cuticle thickness, inner cuticle margin and ovoid bodies in human head hair in
different races of Pakistan to narrow down forensic analysis in criminal scene investigation.

Citation: Khan A, Maryam J, Yaqub T, Nadeem A (2014) Human Hair Analysis among Four Different Castes Having Potential Application in Forensic
Investigation. J Forensic Res 5: 215. doi:10.4172/2157-7145.1000215
Page 2 of 4
Volume 5 • Issue 2 • 1000215
J Forensic Res
Some strands of hair were placed on slide in parallel fashion. Then few
drops of per mount were dropped on cover slip and it was placed over
the slide to fix the hairs. Hairs were under compound microscope at
10X, 40X, 100X and 400X. Details of the hair structure have been shown
in Figure 1. Cuticle thickness, inner cuticle margin and ovoid bodies
were observed as reported by Zafarina and Panneerchelvam [13,15,18].
Results and Discussion
After observing all hairs samples for three parameters, following
results were obtained:
Inner cuticle margin
The inner cuticle margin was divided into three categories: distinct,
indistinct and varied. Microscopic comparison of hairs of four castes
has been shown in Figure 2. The results showed that in males of Awan
caste twenty five samples observed as distinct, three were indistinct
and only two showed varied results and females showed twenty three
distinct types, two indistinct and five varied types of inner cuticle
margin. In case of males of Butt and Gujjar caste twenty one samples
were distinct, four were indistinct and five samples found to be varied.
Whereas females of Butt illustrated twenty five distinct samples, three
indistinct and two varied ones. Females of Gujjar showed that there
were twenty four distinct samples, three samples were indistinct and
again three were varied type. Whereas in males of Rajput, twenty
three samples were observed as distinct, four as indistinct and only
three as varied and in case of females, there are twenty five distinct
samples found, two indistinct and three varied category (Figure 3). So
the most distinct inner cuticle margin was seen in Awans. Overall P
value (using chi-square) was 0.870 showing insignificance of this trait
but contingency coefficient in was indicating an association between
results (Table 1).
Cuticle thickness
Samples which showed distinct inner cuticle margin were then
further examined for cuticle thickness. For this parameter in males,
twenty five total samples were examined in Awans. Sixteen samples
showed cuticle thickness and nine samples had thin cuticle. In butt,
twenty one samples were distinct from which fourteen had thick cuticle
and only seven had thin. In caste of Gujjar, again twenty samples
showed distinct and thirteen of them appeared as thick and eight had
thin cuticle. In case of Rajput caste, twenty three samples were distinct.
Cuticle thickness results showed that there were fourteen samples with
thick cuticle and nine had thin cuticle. These results showed that there
was maximum cuticle thickness in males of Awan (Figure 4). P-value
for this character was 0.980, which is greater than 0.05. Contingency
coefficient value was 0.045 showing lesser association in results (Table 2).
All female hair samples having distinct values were also further
checked for cuticle thickness. The results of Awan caste showed that
out of twenty three total samples seventeen have thick cuticle and only
six have thin cuticle. Similarly in caste Butt twenty one out of twenty
five samples show thickness and only four appeared as thin. So this
caste has maximum number of thick samples. The results of Gujjar
caste displayed eighteen thick and six thin samples out of twenty
four and Rajput caste has nineteen thick samples of cuticle and six
are showing thinness from the total of twenty five samples (Figure 4).
P value was calculated as 0.829. The contingency coefficient is 0.095
which is showing no association between castes (Table 2). Tables 3 and
4 indicates the symmetric measures of cuticle thickness in males and
females of different castes.
Ovoid bodies
Thirty samples were analyzed for presence or absence of ovoid
bodies in males between all four castes. It was concluded that in
Awan caste, ovoid bodies were present in twenty five hair samples and
absent in only five samples. In case of Butt there was highest number
of samples having ovoid bodies i.e. twenty nine. And only one sample
observed without this structure. In samples belonging to Gujjar castes,
only four samples showed no ovoid bodies besides twenty six samples.
In Rajput caste twenty eight samples had these structures whereas only
two samples lacking ovoid bodies. So Butt caste has highest number of
Figure 1: Structure of human hair under compound microscope (10X).
Figure 2: Microscopic comparison (100X) of hair of four different castes
showing no significant differences in cuticle thickness, inner cuticle margins
and ovoid bodies: (a) Butt. (b) Raj put (c) Gujjar and (d) Awan.
Contingency coefficient 0.143
P value (using chi-square) 0.870
Table 1: Results of inner cuticle margins.
Contingency coefficient
(Male)
0.045
P-value
(using chi-square)
0.980
(Female)
0.095
P-value
(using chi-square)
0.829
Table 2: Results of cuticle thickness.

Page 3 of 4
Volume 5 • Issue 2 • 1000215
J Forensic Res
samples possessing ovoid bodies and Gujjar caste is observed with least
number of samples with ovoid bodies (Figure 5). The P-value calculated
using chi-square was 0.295. Contingency coefficient value was 0.173
(Table 5).
The observation of ovoid bodies’ presence in female samples was
also conducted on thirty samples. The results showed that in Awan
caste, these structures were present in twenty seven samples and
absent in only three samples. Whereas in Butt and Gujjar castes, ovoid
bodies were present in all thirty samples and absence were found in
none. In case of Rajput caste, ovoid bodies showed presence in twenty
five samples and absence in only five samples (Figure 5). The P-value
calculated using chi-square was 0.022. Contingency coefficient value
was 0.273 (Table 5).
Discussion
The aim of the research study was to create a data base of some
regional castes of Pakistan to help and narrow down the search of
criminals during forensic investigations. In this study, hair samples
were collected from four castes (Awan, Butt, Gujjar and Rajput) and
inner cuticle margin, cuticle thickness and ovoid bodies were analyzed
for observing similarities or difference among individuals. Out of these
three parameters, ovoid bodies were the only characteristic that varied
among hairs of different individuals in both genders. In one caste, due to
high ratio of endogamy, individuals retain their phenotypic properties
Figure 3: Comparison of inner cuticle margin in male and female of different castes.
Figure 4: Cuticle thickness in male and female of different castes.
Figure 5: Ovoid bodies results in all male castes.
Caste Mean Number of samples Std. deviation
Awan male 1.9600 25 0.79608
Butt male 2.2619 21 0.59935
Gujjar male 2.1190 21 0.71859
Rajput male 2.2609 23 0.78146
Total 2.1444 90 0.73149
Table 3: Symmetric measures of cuticle thickness in males.

Page 4 of 4
Volume 5 • Issue 2 • 1000215
J Forensic Res
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for hairs, skin and others. Previously, Robertson and Aitken (1986)
reported such individual differences [12]. Ogle, in 1998 also studied
the phenotypic differences in individual hairs and found significant
variation that was well applied in forensic analysis [8]. In 1983, Strauss
described the hair features that were important in investigations [14]. A
more detailed description of these features was seen in the research of
Zviak and Dawber (1986) that are still considered valid and significant
in comparative hair analysis [19].
Present study was designed to investigate gender based and
individual based comparison of different castes present in Pakistan.
Most of comparisons were found non-significant. Only significant
difference was observed in presence of ovoid bodies.
This study is a first step towards the physical analysis of hair for
individualization. No one has yet conducted such type of study in
Pakistan before. From this study a data base have developed of different
castes of Pakistan. This is the first step of studying caste system within
a country and needs further attention to study other hair parameters as
well so that valid parameters giving significant results can be sorted out
and recommended to be included in forensic investigation.
References
1. Bisbing, Richard E (2001) Finding Trace Evidence in Mute Witnesses: Trace
Evidence Analysis. Houck Max. (1stedn), Academic Press, San Diego,
California, USA.
Caste Mean Number of samples Std. deviation
Awan female 2.5870 23 0.62889
Butt female 2.4500 25 0.67315
Gujjar female 2.4063 24 0.49350
Rajput female 2.4400 25 0.68191
Total 2.4691 97 0.61899
Table 4: Symmetric measures of cuticle thickness in females.
(Male)
0.173
P-value
(using chi-square)
0.295
(Female)
0.273
P-value
(using chi-square)
0.022
Table 5: Results of ovoid bodies.
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Citation: Khan A, Maryam J, Yaqub T, Nadeem A (2014) Human Hair Analysis among Four
Different Castes Having Potential Application in Forensic Investigation. J Forensic Res 5:
215. doi:10.4172/2157-7145.1000215

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