Do
Family Members Have Similar Fingerprints?
It is possible for family members to have similar
fingerprints. This is due to our genetic
codes. However, there are at least three
variables to consider in the study of this discipline. The first is the intensity of the inherited
gene. When the genetic code of both parents is considered, the question of
dominant and recessive genes (Mendel's Laws)
comes into play. In addition, a
fingerprint trait or characteristic from a distant ancestor can descend to the
current generation. Fingerprints are one
of the many by-products of the human evolutionary cycle.
The second variable is the Dermal Papillae, the nerve
endings located between the dermas and the epidermis (skin layers). The papillae control the course of flow of
the ridges and make solid the outer surface of the skin. When a permanent scar on the skin or
fingerprints exists, it is because the dermal papillae have been affected.
The third variable is tension and pressure
to the fingers during the fetal development stage. During this stage of
development, each digit or finger is within its own enclosure. Consequently, the tension and pressure
that a given digit is subject to can never be the same for another. This is because the digits do not reside
within the same location in space.
In short, family fingerprints can be
similar because of genetics but will be unique because of the variables.
Fingerprint Geometric Analysis