ridges and lines
Take a close look at your palms and the tips of your fingers. Do you see the tiny ridges and lines? If you pressed a finger onto an inkpad and then onto a piece of paper, it would leave a print of the lines and ridges on your finger — a fingerprint!
Your fingerprints are unique. That means that no one else in the world has the exact same set of ridges and lines that you have on your fingers. Not even identical twins have the same fingerprints. Your fingerprints also stay the same from the time you’re born until death. Their uniqueness and lasting quality make fingerprints one of the best ways to identify a person.
Your fingerprints are unique. That means that no one else in the world has the exact same set of ridges and lines that you have on your fingers. Not even identical twins have the same fingerprints. Your fingerprints also stay the same from the time you’re born until death. Their uniqueness and lasting quality make fingerprints one of the best ways to identify a person.
latent fingerprints
Did you realize that you don’t have to dip your fingers in ink to leave fingerprints? Sweat and body oils are constantly pushed out through tiny pores in our skin. These substances coat the ridges and lines of your fingers. When you touch something, you transfer these substances to whatever you touch, leaving an impression of the ridges and lines on your fingers. These fingerprints — called latent fingerprints — usually can’t be seen by the naked eye. However, you can sometimes see them on certain objects, such as a glass bottle.
Scientists have known about these invisible fingerprints since the 19th century. As early as 1892, English scientist Sir Francis Galton wrote a book about using fingerprints to solve crimes. It was not until 1896, however, that Sir Edward Richard Henry would develop a way to classify fingerprints based upon their general ridge patterns: loops, whorls and arches. Henry’s system of fingerprint identification — called dactyloscopy — has been modified slightly over time. Today, it is still used by law enforcement agencies all over the world.
Scientists have known about these invisible fingerprints since the 19th century. As early as 1892, English scientist Sir Francis Galton wrote a book about using fingerprints to solve crimes. It was not until 1896, however, that Sir Edward Richard Henry would develop a way to classify fingerprints based upon their general ridge patterns: loops, whorls and arches. Henry’s system of fingerprint identification — called dactyloscopy — has been modified slightly over time. Today, it is still used by law enforcement agencies all over the world.
Press the Play Button above. Then ESL students can click the CC button on the YouTube bar above to view subtitles in and choose a preffered language.
Press the Play Button above. ESL students can then click the CC button on the YouTube bar above to view subtitles in and choose a preffered language.
ten print system
In 1896, an English fingerprint scientist by the name of Sir Henry Edward, who was a pupil of Galton, created the 'ten print' system of classification, which became the most commonly used technique until the introduction of computers in the late 20th century. It was first implemented in India in 1897 and had its own unique way of classification. Edward divided the patterns in fingerprints into two groups known as value patterns, which contained whorls, and the no-value patterns, which contained loops and arches.
Press the Play Button above. Then ESL students can click the CC button on the YouTube bar above to view subtitles in and choose a preffered language.
technology
Over the last 100 years, advances in technology have helped law enforcement officers make even better use of fingerprints. Today, fingerprints can be “lifted” — identified and copied for later comparison — from just about any surface using special fingerprint powder.
Moreover, scientists don’t even need complete fingerprints any more. With the help of advanced computers and software, even half a fingerprint can be identified and matched with a comparison sample. Computers can even be used to make comparisons automatically, although final verification of a fingerprint match is still done by scientists who carefully study and compare the fingerprints to ensure a proper match is found.
Fingerprints aren’t the only thing scientists use to identify people, though. There are several different types of biological and behavioral characteristics — called biometrics — that can be used to identify an individual. Other examples of biometrics include DNA, the irises of the eyes, voice patterns and facial patterns.
Compare your collection of suspects’ finger prints with the crime scene evidence sample (get one person to give their finger prints twice for this). Students should be able to find the match, this is the culprit!
Moreover, scientists don’t even need complete fingerprints any more. With the help of advanced computers and software, even half a fingerprint can be identified and matched with a comparison sample. Computers can even be used to make comparisons automatically, although final verification of a fingerprint match is still done by scientists who carefully study and compare the fingerprints to ensure a proper match is found.
Fingerprints aren’t the only thing scientists use to identify people, though. There are several different types of biological and behavioral characteristics — called biometrics — that can be used to identify an individual. Other examples of biometrics include DNA, the irises of the eyes, voice patterns and facial patterns.
Compare your collection of suspects’ finger prints with the crime scene evidence sample (get one person to give their finger prints twice for this). Students should be able to find the match, this is the culprit!
Press the Play Button above. Then ESL students can click the CC button on the YouTube bar above to view subtitles in and choose a preffered language.
Press the Play Button above. Then ESL students can click the CC button on the YouTube bar above to view subtitles in and choose a prefered language.
SCIENTISTS ARE STUDYING THE UNIQUE TWENTY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO DO NOT HAVE FINGER PRINTS
SCIENTISTS ARE STUDYING THE UNIQUE TWENTY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO DO NOT HAVE FINGER PRINTS
FINGERPRINT VOCABULARY
CLICK ON ANY OF THE FOLLOWING VOCABULARY WORDS BELOW TO HEAR THEM PRONOUNCED AND USED IN A SENTENCE
ARC
Definition: A fingerprint that is arched or curved.
Context: Forensic detectives found arc fingerprints at the scene of the crime, leading them to believe that those prints belonged to the suspect they were looking for.
LOOP
Definition: A fingerprint that forms a partly open, curving line.
Context: The investigators at the FBI had a hard time deciding whether the fingerprints were in fact loops.
WHORL
Definition: A fingerprint that makes the shape of at least one complete circle.
Context: Solving the crime turned out to be particularly difficult because investigators found both whorl and loop fingerprints, leading them to wonder whether two people were involved.
CLICK ON ANY OF THE FOLLOWING VOCABULARY WORDS BELOW TO HEAR THEM PRONOUNCED AND USED IN A SENTENCE
ARC
Definition: A fingerprint that is arched or curved.
Context: Forensic detectives found arc fingerprints at the scene of the crime, leading them to believe that those prints belonged to the suspect they were looking for.
LOOP
Definition: A fingerprint that forms a partly open, curving line.
Context: The investigators at the FBI had a hard time deciding whether the fingerprints were in fact loops.
WHORL
Definition: A fingerprint that makes the shape of at least one complete circle.
Context: Solving the crime turned out to be particularly difficult because investigators found both whorl and loop fingerprints, leading them to wonder whether two people were involved.