BACKGROUND: Cytogenetic studies from past decades have shown that interphase 
cells of female cats contain a densely stained chromatin mass in their nuclei 
called as Barr bodies (BBs) named after the scientist Murray Barr. BBs are 
unique chromatin structures formed due to the condensation of the X-chromosome. 
Many psychopathic disorders originate from defective genes including the 
multiple X syndromes. Males with extra X-chromosome generally present with 
severe personality disorder. The present study was conducted to determine the 
presence of extra X-chromosome in male jail inmates through the detection of BB 
in peripheral blood and buccal smear.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study included 100 male subjects (fifty jail inmates and 
fifty controls), after obtaining the consent, peripheral blood smears (PBS) and 
buccal smears (BS) were prepared and stained using Leishman's and cresyl violet 
stain respectively. One hundred neutrophils in PBS and epithelial cells in BS 
were screened for detection of the BB; accumulated data were tabulated and 
statistically analyzed using t-test and Chi-square test.
RESULTS: 60% of cases in PBS and 36% in BS showed positivity for the presence of 
BB in jail inmates as compared to 14% of cases in PBS and none in BS were 
positive for BB in controls.
CONCLUSION: Presence of BB in male suggests increased likelihood of criminal 
tendencies. Further studies are to be carried out to compare the results with 
karyotyping.