Fingerprints and Their History

Study Notes

The Chinese were the first known users of fingerprints, referring to them as "Hua Chi".
Emperor Te'in Shi of China devised a seal carved from white jade with the owner's name on one side and the thumb impression on the other.

Fingerprints offer an infallible means of personal identification, unlike DNA, which can be identical in identical twins.
The Bertillon System was used for identification, but it was eventually replaced by fingerprinting due to the West case in 1903.

A fingerprint is an impression made by the ridges on the inside of the last joint of the fingers and thumb on any surface through the medium of sweat, inks, or other ingredients capable of producing visibility.

Dactyloscopy is the study of the classification of fingerprints and a method of personal identification based on fingerprint patterns.
Poroscopy is the scientific examination or study of the sweat pores for identification purposes.
Chiroscopy is the scientific examination or study of the palms of the hands.
Podoscopy is the scientific examination or study of the soles of the feet.

Fingerprint patterns begin to form at the beginning of the 10th week of pregnancy.
The epidermis (outer layer) and the dermis (inner layer) of the skin are involved in fingerprint formation.

Patent fingerprints are visible prints left on smooth surfaces when blood, ink, etc., comes in contact with the hands and is then transferred to that surface.
Plastic fingerprints are indentations left in soft materials such as clay, putty, or wax.
Latent fingerprints are hidden fingerprints, caused by the transfer of oils and other body secretions onto a surface.
Latent fingerprints can be made visible by dusting with fine carbon powder and lifting with sticky tape, or by using chemicals for rough surfaces.