Fingerprinting and Fingerprint Analysis

Each human being is born with universally unique ridges on their fingertips. Scientists believe that nature created these ridges to allow for better touch sensitivity and possibly better grip. These patterns, together with sweat and body oils, form unique marks called fingerprints when the hand touches an object. Fingerprints are typically not visible to the naked eye, unless the fingers are stained, or by applying technologies to expose them. The unique nature of fingerprints offers powerful applications, such as personal identification, signature, and crime investigation.

Fingerprints have been used for centuries. Fingerprinting dates back to ancient Babylon, which existed between 1894 BC and 539 BC; serving for business purposes. In the second century BC, the Chinese were making fingerprints with blackened thumbs, as signatures for merchants, and divorce contracts. Similarly, in Japan, fingerprints and handprints were used as signatures.

In modern history, mankind has found more applications for fingerprinting. In 1691, a petition in Britain calling for compensation for losses during the war, was signed using a signature and a fingerprint. Furthermore, an author and artist called Thomas Beswick, made his fingerprints into carvings and used them as his proof of authenticity and signature. Fingerprints have also been imprinted on old clay tablets used by Babylonians.

Important People

Marcello Malpighi was an Italian physician, biologist, and professor who established microscopic anatomy. He was born on March 10, 1628 in Crevalcore, Papal States. Crevalcore is located near Bologna, Italy. In 1686, he studied the ridges of fingerprints under a microscope, and discovered the unique patterns. He died in Rome, Italy, on November 3...

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...ple thought that prolonged exposure to pineapple acid would destroy a fingerprint, but this is not in fact true. The only way that a fingerprint can be erased through a hand injury, is if the finger itself is essentially damaged.

Blood analysis has been used since 1966, when it was discovered that blood proteins are as unique as fingerprints. DNA analysis has been used since the mid 1980’s after in the early 1950’s, the structure of DNA was learned. In the 1980’s, when videotaping and surveillance equipment became cheaper, video evidence started being used more often to solve crimes. This is also reliable evidence because camera do not lie. Some types of evidence have been around for centuries, and are still used today in criminal investigations. These sorts of evidence include eyewitness testimony, voluntary confessions, written evidence, and hair, skin and fabric.