How Does Genetics and Inheritance Affect the Pattern Of Fingerprints

Someone Has?

By: Ansleigh Heimer

Period 6

Chem ll
 Fingerprints are one of the most, if not the most important part that defines who a person

is. When I say that, I don’t mean mentally, but physically instead. Fingerprints also contribute

the basic need to better grip an object as well as help a person's touch perception. There are lots

of different exceptions to what kind or type of fingerprint someone may have, but in general,

there are about 3 categories that anyone can fall into. Those categories include what are known

as “the arch”, “the loop” and the “the whorl”.

“The arch” is the world's rarest type considering that it is only found in 5% of the world's

population. Of this category, there are two types; the plain arch which has raised ridges that

extend across the whole finger in a continuous pattern and the tented arch which also has raised

edges but they have sharper edges than that of the plain arch. “The whorl” comes next in regards

to how often it is seen. Taking over 25-35% of the world's population, the plain whorl makes a

circular pattern to where as the central pocket whorl is a curvier swirl that is continuous and

encompasses a smaller inner whorl. Lastly, the most popular fingerprint is what is known as “the

loop”. In this general category, there are 3 specific names; ulnar loop, radial loop and central

pocket loop. Ulnar loop is when the ridges will lean towards the smaller finger and not make a

full turn. Radial loops are similar but instead of pointing to the smaller finger, it points towards

the thumb. The central pocket loop will re-curve to eventually surround the middle whorl.

Inheritance can play a huge role in what type of pattern that someone may have as well as

the size and shape of the ridges that are seen with every fingerprint. Although this aspect is true,

the identifying ridges and the details of an individual's fingerprint remain completely unique no

matter what your parents may look like.

The reasoning behind the fact that the ridges of everyone's fingerprint are different lies in

the first few weeks of a pregnancy. In between weeks 10 and 15, formation of FRS (friction
ridge skin) is in full swing. As the baby grows, they develop something known as volpar pads

which are located on the hands and feet. At week 10, these volpar pads stop growing but hands

are still getting bigger. The hands and feet will soak up this pad, and that is where you are able to

notice the first few signs of ridges being formed.

The arrangement and spacing that follows these first few signs is controlled by the volpar

pads solely. If the first few ridges are noticed while the volpar pads are still being pronounced,

that will mean the baby will have a whorl pattern. If the first few ridges are noticed, but the

volpar pads are less pronounced, that will mean the baby is going to have a loop pattern. If the

volpar pad is almost soaked up, and you can see the first few ridges, the baby will then have an

arch pattern.

When both of these things happen at once, that is what will give you the type of pattern

you have, and what specific shape/arrangement of ridges you have. The pattern in which you

inherit is what comes directly from your parents. What your ridges identify as, and the exact

arrangements of them are pretty much random, and that is what makes each one unique and thus

not inheritable. Due to this information, it is a valid statement that with the age change that

people inevitably go through, and plastic surgeries that some people may decide to get, your

fingerprint will most likely never change.

Fingerprint analysts are people who specialize in preserving and evaluating fingerprints,

and even sometimes handprints and footprints, in connection to linking someone to a crime

scene. Their job and how they execute it is very important because one wrong move can be

misleading and potentially ruin someone's life if that person is falsely accused of something. FBI

agents as well as police departments have been relying on these fingerprint analysts for more

than 100 years. These experts help aid the police in identifying suspects in a crime that was
committed. How these experts collect these fingerprints, or any prints in general, and how they

carry out their job is interesting to say the least.

From the beginning, they go in and sweep the whole crime scene for any sort of prints

available. From there, they take that sample and preserve, identify, label and examine it by using

high tech machines to get the best examination possible. They then upload their findings to an

international database for the FBI to where they can positively identify a match within the

system.

In order to become a fingerprint analyst, there is surprisingly not much schooling

involved with a minimum of 2 years. It is highly recommended that if someone is looking to

become a forensic fingerprint analyst, that you take extra time to study in biological sciences,

math, criminal justice, criminalistics and chemistry. Furthering that point, it is most commonly

seen that if you are looking to pursue this career, you must major in either genetics, crime scene

investigation, chemistry, biology, forensic sciences or a combination of the sort.

After schooling is all said and done, most people begin to work in government/law

enforcement agencies. When applying, most will look for you if you have experience in and

know the operation of the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification which is a national

fingerprint system of the FBI. Depending on where these agencies are located, the average salary

that is expected can range from as little as 29,000 to as much as 73,000 dollars a year.