However, the first one to prove their scientific essence was Sir Francis Galton, an anthropologist, and eugenicist.īeing one of the pioneers in fingerprint identification, Galton’s findings have played a significant role in the study and practicality of identifying individuals with their fingerprints. In 1823, another physiologist, Jan Purkinje, indicated at least nine different patterns in human fingerprints. The ridges and loops present in the fingerprint were first noted by physiologist Marcello Malpighi when he examined fingerprints with the help of a microscope in the year 1686. Ancient Chinese were a step ahead of Babylonians and used ink to register their fingerprints on paper for business and identification purposes. History shows fingerprints being recorded many centuries ago, though they were not as refined as they are now.īack then, Babylonians used to press the tips of their thumbs and fingers into clay tablets and seals and used these as signatures to record business matters. The use of fingerprints dates back to ancient times. Talking about crime scenes, fingerprints play a vital role in providing crucial evidence in finding the real criminal. Nowadays, electronic biometric readers are used commonly in mobile phones and many other digital devices. Many organizations identify individuals on the basis of their fingerprints. They are used as identifiers for individuals in many ways. While the major scientific function of these friction ridges is to help us grip objects and not let things slip or slide from our hands, the fingerprint patterns are now significantly being used for legal, social, and many other scientific aspects.įingerprints are usually recorded in ink on paper and digitally on a computer. These sweat glands produce sweat, and as a result, individuals leave fingerprints on almost everything they touch. The ridges that constitute fingerprints are called friction ridges which contain pores and sweat glands. This way, fingerprints are even more unique than DNA. So even if they fool everyone with their identical looks, they cannot cheat the fingerprint testing. They might have the same DNA, which is the genetic material in a human being’s cells, but they cannot have the same fingerprints. Fingerprints are so unique that even two identical twins have different fingerprints. Every finger, or toe, has a unique fingerprint that is different from other fingerprints. This is because fingerprints are the key elements in solving crime cases.Īdding to the uniqueness, even two fingers of the same individual cannot have the same fingerprints. However, the major usage of fingerprints lies with criminal investigation authorities and law enforcement agencies. Many institutions like hospitals and banks use fingerprint recognition for security purposes. This is precisely how criminal investigators are able to collect fingerprints from the crime scenes.įrom biometric identification to criminal investigation, fingerprints are used for a variety of purposes. Have you ever wondered how such a teeny tiny fingerprint pattern gets transferred to other surfaces? Well, this is because each ridge has sweat glands that produce sweat, and as a result, your fingerprint ridges are transferred to the surfaces you touch.
Injuries like burns or cuts also have no effect on the ridge structure of fingerprints. Even though they might diminish a little when an individual grows old, they do not change or alter with age.
This is what makes their fingerprints unique. Every individual has a different number, shape, location, and overall structure of their ridges.
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