Abstract: To explore the origin of dermatoglyphic patterns in Tibetan ethnic populations, 1183 Tibetans were selected using stratified cluster sampling. The characterstics of this sample were then compared to 56 other populations using cluster analysis. In the Tibetan ethnic sample, whorls ( 52. 89% ) were the main type of fingerprint pattern, loops were next (42. 95% ) followed by arches (4. 16% ). Total finger ridge counts were 144. 75 in males and 133. 87 in females, with the mean of 139. 01. The Atd angle was 42. 95°and 43. 28° in males and females, respectively. Cluster analysis of palm print and fingerprint parameters showed that northern populations such as the Tibetan ethnic group, the Han nationality and descendants of the Diqiang nationality (Menba nationality, Qiang nationality and so on) clustered into one group. This work thus ndicates the relationship of the Tibetan ethnic population was close to the Han nationality and the descendants of Diqiang nationality, but distant from peoples of Indian and Bengali ancestry.

Key words: Tibet; Ethnic populations; Palm print; Fingerprint