Bi5402 Dermatoglyphics

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2008
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s). Recommended Type of Completion: z (credit). Other types of completion: zk (examination), -.
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Miroslav Králík, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jaroslav Malina, DrSc.
Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. RNDr. Miroslav Králík, Ph.D.
Timetable
Mon 9:00–10:50 Bp1
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course aims to show on an example of dermatoglyphics - a scientific discipline which went through all phases of scientific development - the possibilities and limitations of sciences. At the end of the course the student will be able to understand the characteristics of epidermal ridges and dermatoglyphics, the methods of fingerprinting, and ontogenesis, phylogenesis and function of papillary terrain. The students will have knowledge of the relation of dermatoglyphic features to other biological properties of the organism and will know the way of using fingerprints in medicine, forensic science, biometry, paleodermatoglyphics, and on other approaches (chiromancy).
Syllabus
  • 1. Dermatoglyphics as a model example of a scientific discipline through a prism of Kuhn's Theory of Scientific Revolutions
  • 2. The properties of epidermal ridges and dermatoglyphics: abstraction and abduction in sciences, extension and intension of dermatoglyphic knowledge.
  • 3. Dermatoglyphic methods of fingerprinting: the approach of man to the surrounding "reality" from the gnoseologic viewpoint.
  • 4. Ontogenesis of papillary terrain: confrontation with another ways of pattern creation in nature.
  • 5. The function of papillary terrain: proximate and ultimate explanation of a biological feature, the "purpose" and "function" in nature.
  • 6. Phylogenesis of papillary terrain: homology, analogy and their relationship.
  • 7. Dermatoglyphic patterns: methodical difficulties in classification and their consequences.
  • 8. Other dermatoglyphic characteristics (minutiae, dotted ridges, white lines, flexion creases): biological feature as a concept, its range, content, meaning shifts and "heterochronies".
  • 9. The utilization of fingerprints in medicine and forensic science. Dactyloscopy, AFIS, biometrics: biological individuality as a theoretical problem and its practical application.
  • 10. Paleodermatoglyphics (history, specifics, limitations): the chance and necessity; on example of "random" fingerprints on ceramics.
  • 11. Chiromancy, dactylomancy, palamoscopy: differences between scientific and "other" ways of knowledge.
  • 12. Course summary: the fingerprint in the course of time.
Literature
  • Pospíšil M.F. (1974): Základy dermatoglyfiky. Prírodovedecká fakulta Univerzity Komenského, Bratislava.
  • Králík M., Novotný V. (2003): Epidermal ridge breadth: an indicator of age and sex in paleodermatoglyphics. Variability and Evolution, 11: 530.
  • Neubauer, Z. (1994): Přímluvce postmoderny. Hrnčířství a nakladatelství Michal Jůza & Eva Jůzová, Praha.
  • Kuhn,T. S. (1982): Štruktúra vedeckých revolucií. Pravda, Bratislava.
Assessment methods
The form of tuition: commented practical courses. The final evaluation is based on the practical protocols.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2008, recent)
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