Surface Structure of Hairs in a Triploid (69,XXX) Individual

Following positive identification by the usual cytogenetic means of a newborn girl with a triploid chromosome complement (69,XXX), a sample of hair was analyzed with the scanning electron microscope. The results of the observation on triploid human hair were compared to data gathered from the hair of normal newborn boys and girls. Significant differences were found between triploid and diploid hairs in mean width, mean width between the free edges of the cuticular scales, and average number of cuticular scales.