• Question: Why do we have fingerprints and can you copy/erase a fingerprint?

    Asked by jonybraly to Anna, Craig, Richard, Shane, Sue on 21 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Anna Williams

      Anna Williams answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      Hi jonybraly,
      This is a great question, and one for Richard to answer! 🙂

    • Photo: Sue Carney

      Sue Carney answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      Yes, definitely one for Richard! I’ve no idea why we have fingerprints. You can certainly erase fingerprint marks from other surfaces, but as to whether you can erase them from your fingers – that sounds painful. :-/

    • Photo: Shane Pennington-Cooper

      Shane Pennington-Cooper answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      Hello Jonybraly,

      This is definitely a question for Richard, however I will give you a little response.

      Fingerprints were not created in the womb because of the benefits of identifying a person, they originally developed to enhance the sensitivity of our fingerptips (so we move our hands away from fire quicker etc). It could be a possibility to take someone elses fingerprints such as a skin graft but this would be a bit far fetched, also you could burn your fingers so the skin does not show the unique pattern (do not try this ever).

    • Photo: Richard Case

      Richard Case answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      Great question jonybraly!

      We have fingerprints for a few reasons:

      1. As Shane has already said… we use it for the sense of touch… there are millions of nerve endings to the tips of your fingers that help you distinguish from different textures and warn of any dangers.

      2. There are also thousands of sweat pores that cover the hands. This makes these areas more prone to sweating.. thats why you get weaty palms. Its this sweat that makes the fingerprints at crime scenes in most cases.

      3. It also helps with grip. If you look at you hands you will notice that they are covered in lots of different lines and patterns…. very much like grips on the soles of shoes.

      Can you copy a fingerprint? The simple answer is YES. Every time that you take someones fingerprints you are making a copy of them… and everytime you leave a fingerprint in blood, sweat or ink you are also making copies. If you are asking whether you can copy someones fingerprint to plant at a scene.. thene theoretically its possible, but its so difficult to achieve it is hardly worth the effort.

      Can you erase a fingerprint? Again, this is very difficult to do. Shane has given you a couple of possibilities… but never underestimate the recovery power of skin. It has good healing techniques, which will make the fingerprint look exactly as it was before you injured it 🙂

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