Questions and Answers
List 2 new technologies or gadgets in which fingerprints are needed.
An iPhone 5S and a safe.
Is fingerprint identification reliable?
True
List the three patterns of fingerprints and sub-patterns with percentages.
Loops (65%): Radial and Ulnar; Whorls (30%): Plain (24%), Central Pocket (2%), Accidental (0.01%), Double (4%); Arches (5%): Tented (1%) and Plain (4%).
What does IAFIS stand for?
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Describe how fingerprints are formed.
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List the 3 fundamental principles for fingerprints.
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Who is known as American public enemy #1 in the history of the US, and what did he do to try to change his identity?
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What is the name of the person falsely accused of being involved in the Madrid Bombing? What was the reason for the mistake?
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What is the simplest fingerprint pattern?
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What are plastic prints?
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What are patent fingerprints?
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What are latent prints?
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Name three uses of fingerprints.
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Which prints are visible to the naked eye?
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Which prints are invisible to the naked eye?
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Is it possible to alter fingerprints?
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Describe three methods previously used by criminals to try to alter their fingerprints.
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How many points of similarity are needed in the US?
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What are dactylograms?
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What is dactyloscopy?
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KOALAS have fingerprints that more closely resemble humans than CHIMPANZEES.
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What is the reason why even identical twins have different fingerprints?
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What is a Loop?
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What is an Arch?
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What is the most common type of fingerprint pattern?
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What is a Ridge Impression/Ridge Pattern?
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Who discouraged the idea that everyone has a different arrangement of patterns on their fingers that do not change with time?
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Who developed the classification system for fingerprints?
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Who was credited with solving the first murder using fingerprints?
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Can fingerprints be taken from a dead body?
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What makes our fingertips moist and able to grip better?
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Describe the basal layer.
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Study Notes
Fingerprints and Identification
- iPhone 5S and safes utilize fingerprint technology for security.
- Fingerprint identification is highly reliable; no two individuals have the same fingerprints, and they remain unchanged over time.
Fingerprint Patterns
- Three primary fingerprint patterns and their percentages:
- Loops (65%): Includes Radial and Ulnar sub-patterns.
- Whorls (30%): Divided into Plain (24%), Central Pocket (2%), Accidental (0.01%), and Double (4%).
- Arches (5%): Contains Tented (1%) and Plain (4%).
- Simplest pattern is Arches; the most common is Loops.
Formation and Characteristics of Fingerprints
- Formed at the 10th week of gestation; patterns arise as the basal layer folds and bends new skin cells.
- Fingerprints are unique characteristics, making individual identification systematic and permanent.
Historical Figures and Cases
- John Dillinger attempted to change his identity by burning off his fingerprints with acid.
- Brandon Mayfield was falsely accused in the Madrid Bombing due to similarity in fingerprints with the actual perpetrator.
- Alphonse Bertillon credited with solving the first murder using fingerprints.
Types of Fingerprints
- Plastic Prints: Indentations made in soft materials.
- Patent Fingerprints: Visible prints left in colored substances.
- Latent Prints: Invisible prints formed by sweat and oils.
Criminal Techniques and Alteration of Fingerprints
- Fingerprints can be altered; however, attempts can render them more unique.
- Criminals have used methods like applying acid, surgical removal, or flipping fingerprints during surgery to try and alter their prints.
Fingerprint Analysis
- In the U.S., 12 points of similarity are required for identification.
- Dactylograms refer to fingerprints, and dactyloscopy is the study of fingerprint identification.
Genetic and Biological Aspects
- Koalas have fingerprints resembling those of humans more than chimpanzees.
- Identical twins possess different fingerprints due to variations in blood flow.
- Microscopic sweat pores on fingertips help improve grip.
Notable Figures in Fingerprint History
- William Herschel recognized the unique arrangement of fingerprints.
- Sir Francis Galton and Sir Edmund Richard Henry developed a fingerprint classification system.
Fingerprint Recovery
- Fingerprints can be successfully retrieved from deceased individuals using chemical treatments or surgical methods.
- The basal layer of skin is crucial for fingerprint formation, producing new skin cells where the prints develop.
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Description
Test your knowledge of fingerprints with this quiz based on Chapter 6 of Forensics. Learn about the reliability of fingerprint identification and discover new technologies that utilize fingerprints. Explore the different patterns of fingerprints and their characteristics.
