Wisconsin Science MuseumWisconsin Science MuseumFingerprints are composed of three main features: loops, arches, and whorls. Loops are the most common and come in radial (point towards the thumb) or ulnar (point toward the pinky). Whorls are the second most common and are circular or spiral. Arches are like a hill and appear wavelike. Each fingertip has a unique combination of these lines and features. These fingerprints can be used to identify someone in a crime scene!
Press finger against ink pad. Press finger against your piece of paper.
Take your magnifying glass and try to identify the whorls, loops, and arches within your fingerprint.
Try another finger and see how the results vary!
One of the most important job that a forensic scientist must complete is analyzing fingerprints. Fingerprint analysis can help link who was present at a crime scene! Fingerprints can also be used to look up a person’s previous records.
A common use of fingerprints in our everyday lives is with biometric authentication. Biometric authentication is a security process that relies on the unique biological characteristics of an individual to verify identity. Our phones can use fingerprints and biometric authentication to unlock them or as a substitute for passwords. Another example of biometric authentication is using faceID on our phones as well!
Fingerprints are also inherited from your parents! The patterns can be inherited, but the identifying features are not. The timing of the events that cause fingerprints, volar pad regression and primary ridge appearance, is genetically linked. That means that the pattern type is inherited by genetic timing.
Have your family members create fingerprints and try to find the similarities!
Check out this article if you want to learn more!